Kenang Sosok Ridwan Saidi, Paramadina Chancellor: Critical Culturalist But Santun

JAKARTA - Paramadina University Chancellor Didik J Rachbini said during his lifetime Betawi cultural observer Ridwan Saidi was a cultural figure, politician, historian and activist who was critical but still polite in providing input to the government.

"The person is an egalitarian, his style of speech is strong but very humorous while mocking what and who he criticized," said Didik J Rachbini as quoted by ANTARA, Jakarta, Sunday, December 25.

In the national political world, said Didik, Ridwan Saidi's voice when he was a representative of the people in Senayan was known to be quite loud. The cultural criticism was softer through his formal status as a member of the DPR so that there was never at all any indication that the government would arrest him at that time.

At that time, said Didik, the strength of the opposition was meaningless in the midst of authoritarian political forces. However, the criticisms raised teach that in democracy there must be a different voice and maybe an alternative.

"The symbol of criticism that echoed nationally lies with the figure of Ridwan Saidi," recalled Didik.

He assessed that Ridwan Saidi never regretted being outside the circle of power because of his critical attitude. The Betawi cultural observer is an activist from the Islamic Student Association (HMI) who graduated from the University of Indonesia who was forged by the history of activism very long.

This coincides with major changes in Indonesia. Starting from the Old Order, the coup of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), the New Order, the transition period from the fall of the New Order to the current democratic era.

According to Didik, the academic who was born on September 2, 1960, nearly two decades after the reform, democracy experienced setbacks and Ridwan Saidi spoke publicly so that the government would not play against its political opponents.

"Figur like Ridwan Saidi is needed to keep democracy from slipping towards authoritarian means," he said.

Not only criticism of political problems, Ridwan Saidi, who was born on July 2, 1942, is also known to often criticize development problems, one of which is about moving the nation's capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan.

Although known to be critical, Ridwan Saidi also did not hesitate to appreciate the government, in this case Jokowi while serving as Governor of DKI Jakarta. The former General Chairperson of the HMI Executive Board is proud of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government because he is considered to care about the Betawi community, one of which is the development of the Betawi Cultural Village in Setu Babakan, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta.

"Goodbye, Bang Ridwan," said Didik.