Nothing Special From AHY's Political Speech: Rhetoric, Without Revolutionary Thoughts

Chairman of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) delivered a political speech at the Indoor Tennis GBK Senayan on March 14, 2023. (DPD of the DKI Jakarta Democratic Party)

JAKARTA There was nothing special in the speech of the General Chairperson of the Democratic Party, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) on March 14, according to political observer at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang Hutri Agustino. AHY's criticism in the speech was actually just a repeat.

Many people, especially academics, understand enough about Indonesia's current problems. Such as the debt problem which has tripled in the last eight years of Jokowi's administration.

"Is there a President who has never been in debt? I don't think there is a single regime of power that doesn't increase debt or increase the amount of debt ratio to GDP, everything adds up," Hutri told VOI on March 17, 2023.

For example, during the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), the total debt in 2007 was IDR 1,389.41 trillion, then at the end of his 2014 position it increased to around IDR 2,608.78 trillion.

The same was true in the Jokowi era. However, the increase was very drastic, reaching IDR 7,754.98 trillion in early 2023.

Then related to the issue of extending the presidential term and the closed proportional system in the 2024 General Election. Many people have criticized this.

The extension of the president's term of office violates the law. Chairman of the Crescent Star Party, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, gave a note containing considerations and solutions regarding the issue of extending the term of office of the President.

Likewise, related to a closed proportional system. Many other political parties have expressed their rejection.

Thus, Hutri assessed that the speech was only a way for the Democratic Party to seek political reasoning to increase the electability of the party and the electability of its cadres.

"This is a common thing to do in the political arena ahead of the election. The issues are crucial to be played by the Democratic Party, which is currently out of power or opposition," said Hutri.

However, as a note, AHY's criticism seemed to continue the feud between the two parties which actually started with each of its main figures.

"Yes, everyone knows the cold hot relationship between SBY and Megawati. The two parties criticized each other. In the past, during the SBY era, PDIP was completely criticized when SBY raised the price of fuel. After all, when PDIP was in power, the same thing was done. Now AHY criticizes, is there a guarantee that the criticism will not be done when he wins later, "he said.

That's why, Hutri believes that the politics displayed by the elites today tends to be boring, There is no most revolutionary solution to the various problems we have experienced for decades. The problem of corruption alone has not been resolved until now.

The most crucial issue faced by Indonesia today is how to form a human being capable of protecting the entire Indonesian nation and all of Indonesia's bloodshed.

This effort can certainly be achieved through the performance of education. However, what must be understood, the essence of education is not just giving knowledge, what is more important is the formation of dignified character and behavior of human beings.

So, later there can be figures of integrity who have revolutionary thoughts.

Integrity, as reported by the Imageia Blog, is a concept relating to behavior, values, methods, facilities, principles, expectations, and the integration of various results. People who have integrity mean having an honest and strong personality.

Honesty in this case is not only talk, rhetoric sweetener, but also action. People with integrity do not have a certain cover or other goals other than what is shown.

Behavior in accordance with what is said and has consistency between what is believed and its behavior, as well as consistency between the value of life held and the life carried out.

The lack of people with integrity can be trusted and honest personality, have commitment, be responsible, keep their words, be loyal, respect time, and have principles on the values of life.

So, Hutri considered, "Infrastructure is important, but human development is more important and must be prioritized as it goes. How can we look at the golden generation of 2045, talking about demographic bonuses if the humans are not prepared."

Hopefully the big budget in the education sector which reaches IDR 621.3 trillion or 20 percent of the state budget in 2022 can provide maximum results. It can give birth to future leaders who are able to bring Indonesia into a developed country.