Risma's Anger Is Only For Low-Employees: Oppression In Power Relations

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Again, Tri Rismaharini was caught angry. This time, the target was an assistant for the Family Hope Program (PKH). Risma's finger is always easy to attack lower-ranking employees. Meanwhile, have we seen the same attitude from Risma to officials whose rank is higher than her? Of course not. We are not that naive. But Risma's attitude shows a strong power relationship, how the free power oppresses the commoners.

During an open meeting in Gorontalo, Thursday, September 29, Risma targeted and intimidated a PKH facilitator. Risma was angry because the PKH assistant reported that there were residents who were registered in the program but their balances were never filled. The assistant said the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) crossed out the data on social assistance recipients.

"So we're not going to cross it, huh! Don't shoot you, huh. Don't shoot you!" shouted Risma while pointing the pen at the companion.

Still screaming, Risma said the Ministry of Social Affairs had never crossed out the data on social assistance recipients in the Integrated Welfare Data (DTKS). What the Ministry of Social Affairs does, said Risma, is to update and add data periodically. Indeed, one of Risma's agenda in Gorontalo is to evaluate the distribution of social assistance that has been hampered.

"It's the data that you often slander! It was me who got hit. DTKS was crossed out. I never crossed out. We added all areas. Why do I write?" Risma.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Mrs. Risma, was angry again during a visit to Gorontalo pic.twitter.com/95TzuEJyzc

— GUNTUR PULUHULAWA (@numadayana) September 30, 2021

Risma's attitude towards lowly employees

Governor Rusli Habibie immediately responded to Risma's attitude. He did not accept that his employees were intimidated. Rusli also called Risma's attitude a bad example and should not be carried out by a state official. Especially about how Risma treats people of lower rank. Rusli also warns Risma to respect the earth she stands on.

"The PKH assistant conveyed to the Minister that there were these names, the balance was empty because the information had been crossed out. That's what made his blood boil... That's my employee. Even though he's a lowly employee but he's also human... I'm offended. I don't accept it, "Rusli Habibie told reporters on Friday, September 30.

"I saw the video, I was very concerned. I didn't predict a minister, social anymore, would treat him like that. That's not a good example... We have to protect the rank, the position. There is no meaning to this rank. We leave all of them. ) is wrong, it will be corrected," added Rusli.

This is not the first time Risma has been angry with lower-ranking employees. Not long ago, Risma has only received criticism. In a meeting at the Wyata Guna Social Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Bandung, last July 13, Risma scolded all the Ministry of Social employees who were present. Risma was furious after reviewing the readiness of the soup kitchen at the location.

Risma threatened to move the Ministry of Social's civil servants (ASN) who she considered lazy to Papua. "I don't want to see it like this again. If it's like this again, I'll move everything to Papua. I can't fire people if nothing goes wrong. But I can move them to Papua. So please be sensitive," said Risma, quoted by Kompas.com .

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Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Beka Ulung Hapsara smelled the charge of racism and stigmatization against Papua and its people in Risma's statement. He urged Risma to apologize and correct her perspective. What's wrong with Papua? Papua should not be a place of disposal let alone punishment.

"Papua is not a place of disposal and punishment for those who are deemed unable to work. Papua is equal and on an equal footing with other regions in Indonesia," said Beka.

Another note of Risma's anger occurred when she was the Mayor of Surabaya. At that time, at the beginning of the pandemic, May 2020, Risma was furious when she learned that there were two PCR cars from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) that were supposed to be sent to Surabaya but instead were diverted to other areas. Risma then got angry with someone on the phone who was not clear who.

"I got (chat) Pak Doni Monardo's WhatsApp if (the laboratory car) is for Surabaya. What is this. If you want to boycott, don't do that. I will tell everyone," said Risma in a high tone.

Back in September 2016, Risma went on a rampage at the Surabaya Population and Civil Registration Office (Disdukcapil) because she saw the service for making electronic ID cards (e-KTP) which seemed slow and caused queues to pile up. Risma is said to have also found that there were residents who had to go back and forth to apply for an e-KTP.

Risma called the Head of Disdukcapil and asked him to call the IT employee in charge. Risma then scoffed, calling the slow work a sin against the people. "If there are military men on the road to take care of ID cards, then you have an accident, you are sinning," said Risma, pointing her hand at her subordinates who just looked down.

Risma .'s relationship of power and oppression

The sociologist of the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, Tantan Hermansah sees this as something that often happens. The social structure gives officials the 'privilege' to be angry. Seeing the social and cultural stratification formed in government institutions, Risma's oppression is only a small picture of systemic inequality.

"An official often feels that he has the right to be angry with those under him. And that right is not the other way around. Because if the same thing is done, even if the subordinate is right, then in the end he can be excluded from the system," said Tantan to VOI, Monday, October 4th.

"The view that according to the rules 'The boss is always right, if the boss is wrong, then look at rule number one' is still the hold of some officials. If you can't get angry with your subordinates, why become a superior (official)?" added Tantan.

Tantan offered Gramsci's theory of Hegemony as the scalpel for the Risma case. This theory explains how a class and its members exercise power over the classes below it through violence and persuasion. This theory explores the dominance of the power group over the groups under its social structure.

Social Minister Risma (Source: Antara)

"Hegemony in Gramsci's thinking is a consensus organization, where submission is obtained through the ideological mastery of the hegemonic class," wrote Endah Siswati in the journal Anatomy of Antonio Gramsci's Theory of Hegemony, quoted by VOI, Monday, October 4.

Completing the perception of Risma's case, Tantan also invites us to look at the concept of social pathology. Kartini Kartono in Social Pathology 2 Juvenile Delinquency explains that social pathology is all behavior "contrary to the norms of goodness, local stability, patterns of simplicity, morals, property rights, family solidarity, living in harmony with neighbors, good discipline, and formal law."

Meanwhile, Dollard explains that social pathology is behavioral deviation caused by aggressiveness that arises as a result of frustration due to dissatisfaction with oneself. This opinion, according to Tantan, happened to Risma. Risma seemed confused about her own power. Instead of taking advantage of her position to benefit, Risma actually creates new problems from her habit of getting angry. Non-solution attitude.

"The leader himself is the problem. Why try to get angry. He has strength and power at the same time," said Tantan.

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