Encouraging the Strengthening of Interfaith Figures to Prevent the Politicization of SARA Ahead of the 2024 Election
The role of interfaith leaders is indeed very important in being able to go directly to the community and deliver socialization or appeals so that all elements of society are able to be aware of each other about the possibility of SARA politicizing practices in the continuation of the upcoming 2024 General Election democracy party.
The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) has officially ratified the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2022 concerning General Elections (Election) to become Law (UU). With this ratification, it also means that it is a sign that indeed the national contestation of the democratic election party must run on time in 2024.
In this regard, the Chairperson of the DPR RI, Puan Maharani said that the existence of Perppu No. 1 becoming a law indicates that indeed all Indonesian people will soon be facing the upcoming 2024 general election.
Not only that, he then also hopes that the democratic party which will soon be held can run safely, comfortably, happily and happily.
After the ratification of Perppu No. 1 of 2022 concerning Elections to become a law by the Indonesian Parliament, then indeed the enactment of this policy should have been carried out very well by various parties, especially in this case the Indonesian Government and also the election organizers, namely the General Election Commission (KPU). ) in overseeing the entire process and carrying out all stages up to the voting on February 14, 2024.
Of course, with the holding of the 2024 Election democratic party that is just around the corner, challenges will also continue to haunt the event. One that continues to be a challenge in the election implementation process is the practice of politicization that uses elements of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup (SARA) , or what is commonly known as identity politicization.
According to RI Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) Member, Herwyn JH Malonda, the existence of identity politicization is a very dangerous thing in the implementation of elections. How could it not be, the article starts with the practice of identity politics, it will have the potential to bring violence and SARA-based riots in society, including being able to divide the nation.
Furthermore, if the issues and practices of SARA politicization continue in society, then there will also be rejection of certain candidates but on the pretext of their identity background such as their ethnic background , ethnicity or religion. So it is clear that this undermines democratization in Indonesia.
Even though it should be in election contestation, every candidate for leader or election participant must be able to contest by highlighting their ideas or ideas and also their vision and mission, including the programs they offer to the public.
So that with all of that, later on the public will be able to sort and choose which candidate leaders are considered suitable and fit to lead Indonesia in the future, but at all the considerations for the election or rejection are purely from ideas, and not coming because of the identity background of the leader. potential leaders.
Therefore, indeed the practice of politicizing SARA is a scourge and also a challenge that all elements of society must be able to anticipate immediately. One of the things that is very important in efforts to anticipate the practice of identity politics is how the role of interfaith leaders who can be said to be an important key in realizing the quality of the upcoming 2024 election.
If these interfaith leaders are able to be proactive and also participate in educating the voting public to be able to exercise their right to vote and also reject money politics and identity politics, then of course the democratic party in 2024 will be of very high quality.
The community as voters must be given an understanding of how the technical stages of the General Election are proper and correct, including encouraging them to be able to cast their right to vote. In this case, the role of interfaith leaders is very strategic in conveying this appeal directly to the community and engaging in society.
It is also not surprising why Bawaslu invites all stakeholders, including interfaith leaders to jointly counteract the politicization of SARA in society because all parties actually have a role to play in the success of the upcoming democratic party.
The practice of politicizing SARA is a thing that has many negative impacts , including that it will be able to divide the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and also reduce the level of quality of democracy in this nation. Therefore, it is very important to be able to prevent the practice of identity politics from continuing to be used in the upcoming 2024 election. In this case, the role of interfaith leaders is very important.
)* The author is a contributor to the Siber Nusa Institute
