DEMAGOGY WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT

In October 15^th 2017, Anies gave a long speech about his program that he will do as the elected governor of Jakarta. But in one part in his speech, Anies talked about what people say as a racist topic. Anies said in his speech as I quote “Jakarta adalah satu dari sedikit tempat di Indonesia yang merasakan hadirnya penjajah dalam kehidupan sehari-hari selama berabad-abad lamanya. Rakyat pribumi ditindas dan dikalahkan oleh kolonialisme. Kini telah merdeka, saatnya kita jadi tuan rumah di negeri sendiri. Jangan sampai terjadi di Jakarta ini apa yang dituliskan dalam pepatah Madura, “Itik se atellor, ajam se ngeremme.” Itik yang bertelur, ayam yang mengerami. Seseorang yang bekerja keras, hasilnya dinikmati orang lain.” 

Professor Tom Pepinsky from Cornell University said that some of the statements in his speech is not worth it. “He (Anies) basically talked with number of phrase in Batak, Aceh, Banjar and many others. But also in the other hand, he uses SARA issues to describe a Jakarta that focuses more on indigenous interests than on Chinese descent. This is the campaign strategy that will be supported by Anies supporters. I think this speech is designed to be heard by all circles in Indonesia ahead of the process to the presidency of 2019” said Tom.

The uses of “Pribumi” Word is actually no longer used according to Instruksi Presiden No.26/1998 which entered into force on 16 September 1998. The word “Pribumi” is no longer used “in all policy formulation and implementation, program planning, as well as implementation of governance activities.”

If we look in the history of Indonesia, who is actually “pribumi”? as we know Indonesia consist of many people with many culture as well. What we know about Indonesia these days is basically the results of many culture cross that happen far way in the past. So, who is actually “pribumi”? is not an easy question to answer.

What Anies did say in his speech, I believe, is a strategy to gain more popularity among Jakarta people. This attitudes in exploit prejudices to gain popularity called demagogy. In this case, Anies uses SARA issues to exploit Jakarta people’s opinion.

Robert Robertus said "This is a demagogical feature, a model of political speech emphasizing the building of sentiments to mobilize the minds of the people, meaning that if it is demagogy, then it is not a concrete attempt to solve the basic problems of the lives of the people. If demagogy, the political mobilization is based Because demagogues have the weakness to solve the problem concretely and are covered with demagogy in the inauguration outside the building there is mass support that writes about indigenous and non-indigenous people. So, through the speech seemed to want to answer the demands of his old constituents, and he needs to "take care" of those whose political articulation is wrapped in the concept of indigenous and non-indigenous. The purpose of "taking care" is unknown "

What Robert says about demagogy is extremely true. If it is true that Anies exploits prejudices to gain popularity among his people, it would lead Jakarta to the wrong places where it shouldn’t be. Jakarta people will start to discriminate any other people who does not look oriental as they describe them as “non-pribumi”. This “pribumi” and “non-pribumi” issues will lead people to not cooperate with each other, while cooperation is the most important thing to do to gain an institutional success, in this case Jakarta.

Demagogy within the government should never exist. Because the government and the people will not think about their political choices anymore. It could distract people from the true meaning of politic itself. And this distraction will aggravate the future of politic in Indonesia, especially Jakarta.

Source: https://www.voaindonesia.com/a/pidato-anies-dinilai-kurang-tepat/4072985.html