Anwar Abbas: The Victory Of Komeng Is Proof That Politics Can Be Without Money
Eddy Wijaya. (IST)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Anwar Abbas praised the victory of comedian Komeng in the election of members of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD) in West Java, while talking to Eddy Wijaya on the EdShareOn podcast which aired Wednesday, March 27, 2024. According to Buya Anwar, Anwar Abbas's nickname, Komeng's victory to prove that politicians can be successful without having to be involved in money politics transactions (money politics).

For me, what's interesting is that the person named Komeng. He didn't spend money when he nominated the DPD RI. Instead, he was paid if he wanted to perform. Komeng is a phenomenal figure. In the future, he is the one who should be shown in our politics," said Buya Anwar.

Previously, senior comedian Alfiansyah Komeng was confirmed to have walked to Senayan after reaping the most votes of 5,399,699 votes in the selection of members of the West Java electoral district. Komeng admitted that he had never spent money on campaigns and billboards. In fact, he actually got money because he was often invited as a guest star at a number of events in West Java.

Buya Anwar alluded to Komeng because he saw the political reality in the 2024 election which was suspected to contain a lot of money politics. Even the chairman of PP Muhammadiyah agreed with some assumptions by political analysts who called the 2024 election the worst election in Indonesia. "For example, the element is 'free', it turns out that (on the field) there is intimidation. There are certain parties who slash, scare, and lure."

Anwar admitted that his colleagues told many stories about the massive practice of money in the community during the 2024 General Election. The money used to buy votes from the public is no longer tens of thousands, but up to IDR 500 thousand per vote.

"What is often a question today, he (the legislator) has never lived in the area, has never met the local community, but (los nyleg) because he has a lot of money to give."

Therefore, Buya Anwar hopes that popular figures like Komeng will decorate national politics in the future. According to him, many Muslim figures have the potential to win like Komeng, for example KH Abdullah Gymnastiar alias Aa Gym, Ustaz Abdul Somad, and Ustaz Das'ad Latif. "If they join (theyaleg), I don't think there is a need for a campaign, there is no need for money in my opinion. Because from an event like Komeng, we can see that politics without money can be provided that a developed figure is known to the public."

The Distribution of Social Assistance in the Election of Not Smartening the Nation In chatting with Eddy Wijaya on the EdShareOn podcast, Deputy Chairperson of MUI Anwar Abbas also highlighted the large distribution of social assistance packages (bansos) from the government during the 2024 General Election. According to Buya Anwar, the policy does not reflect the state's obligations in accordance with the 1945 Constitution to educate the nation's life.

"If you want to educate the nation, yes, by empowering the community, providing decent work," he said. Buya Anwar explained, the community, especially the weak economy, does need a stimulus such as social assistance. However, if the distribution is carried out in the momentum of the election, it will have bad implications for the community as the owner of the vote.

"I think this is part of the restraint of the people because they are no longer free to convey (his voice) because he has been force-fed with money, which is actually not much," said Buya Anwar. He hopes that the political situation in the 2024 election can be a valuable lesson in the future, so that the quality of the election can be even better.


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