Mahfud MD Asked KAMI Not To Deny that They Are Political

Menko Polhukam Mahfud MD saat di Istana Negara, Jakarta (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, assessed that the Save Indonesia Coalition (KAMI) doesn't need to worry about being called political. He conveyed this in response to the polemic related to the KAMI. They were recently accused of being a political maneuver from government opposition figures.

"A group of people gather around and make a statement, they are accused of being a political movement. But they said it is not political. Both the accuser and the accused person were saying a political expression. They are talking about the state. One of the origins of the word politics is polis (Greece). It means a state," Mahfud said on his Twitter account @mohmahfudmd, Thursday, August 20.

Ketika ada sekelompok orng berkumpul dan membuat statement dituding sbg gerakan politik. Yg dituding bilang bkn politik. Sebenarnya yg menuding dan yg dituding sama2 berekspresi politik krn berbicara ttg negara. Salah satu asal kata politik adl "polis" (Yunani) yg berarti negara.

— Mahfud MD (@mohmahfudmd) August 20, 2020

In other words, a political expression also occurs when various parties discuss policies or make petitions about policies taken by the government. So, they don't need to refuse if they are declared to be involved in politics.

"So there is no need for us to be afraid. Politics means having a state or taking part in thinking or managing state policies. What must be understood is that politics is not the same as having a political party. Political participation is only a small part of political activity," he said.

His tweet did not touch the KAMI issue. Mahfud said that his statement was for anyone, including KAMI. 

According to him, if a political party accuses KAMI as a political movement, they don't need to deny it. 

"There are those who accuse KAMI of carrying out political movements. It's okay," he said.

"Strangely, there are those who argue and say that KAMI isn't involved in politics. So what if you do politics? It's permissible and inevitable," added the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

Furthermore, Mahfud said that politics is natural. So, he was often surprised. Particularly, when he faced the DPR RI members who told other parties not to play politics.

"What's funny is that there are often DPR members who say, 'don't play politics here'. DPR is a place for politics. How come people are prohibited from coming to the DPR to do politics? Politics is natural. Everyone is bound by a tangible political organization: country," he said.

Previously, KAMI was declared at the Proclamation Monument, Jakarta, by Din Syamsuddin and a number of figures, including former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo. Din Syamsuddin emphasized that KAMI was formed to deal with national problems.

"The Indonesian nation is experiencing big problems, so let us rise to the rescue. I personally and interfaith leaders, we want to save our beloved country. As a national responsibility, as a people's responsibility," said Din Syamsuddin, Tuesday, August 18.

In front of the people, Din Syamsuddin emphasized that KAMI is a moral movement. This movement aspires to uphold the truth and create justice for society. "KAMI, as a moral movement, together we move and fight. That the moral movement is not devoid of politics, we also do politics, but moral politics. Politics based on moral values," he continued.