MUI Calls Prabowo's Proposal Regarding The Election Of Regional Heads In Line With The Results Of Ijtima Ulama Throughout Indonesia

Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa, Asrorun Niam Sholeh (ANTARA/HO-MUI)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto has asked to evaluate the regional head election system that is more effective and prevents money politics. This was welcomed by the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for Fatwa, Asrorun Niam Sholeh.

"The idea of simplifying the system conveyed by President Prabowo needs to be appreciated and responded well. The considerations are empirical and realistic. Moreover, the intention is an effort to realize substantive benefit and prevent the bad effects that have occurred factually in the political system that has been in effect so far," said Niam in Jakarta, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, December 14.

"The MUI has also proposed the same thing in the results of Ijtima Ulama throughout Indonesia," he added.

He explained that in the decision of the Ijtima Ulama to be explained, currently the regional head election directly has a very large mafsadah, such as the emergence of a dysharmoni in the national leadership hierarchy.

This has resulted in the high cost of democracy so that it delays the priority scale of community development, which is currently in a difficult economy, has the potential to create horizontal conflicts between communityelements that can involve elements of SARA (suku, religion, and intergroup) and moral damage that hit the wider community due to the rampant money politics.

"Based on the principle of prioritizing preventing mafsadatan, regional head elections should be carried out with a representative system while maintaining democratic principles, and this is more beneficial," he said.

MUI in the Ijtima Ulama Fatwa Commission throughout Indonesia at the Cipasung Tasikmalaya Islamic Boarding School in West Java in 2012, previously decided on the General Election of Regional Heads including the process of selecting and appointing regional heads as the bearer of the mandate for al-din and syyasah al-anya can be carried out with several alternative methods agreed together by the people as long as it comes to mass and does not conflict with sharia principles.

Another result, he said, is that direct general elections in determining leadership can only be carried out if agreed upon by the people, guaranteed benefit, and avoided mafsadat.

Pilkada is one of the media learning democracy for local people and at the same time to realize the essential rights of individuals such as the same political rights and the opportunity to place individual positions in regional governments.

The direct regional head election is intended to involve broad community participation, so that theoretically the access and public control of the arena and actors involved in the regional head election process becomes very strong.

Therefore, in the context of consolidation and strengthening democracy, regional head elections become pillars that strengthen democratic buildings nationally.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto threw the discourse of regional heads such as governors to regents and mayors again elected by the DPRD. According to him, as implemented in other countries, the system is considered more efficient and does not cost much.

"I see that our neighboring countries are efficient, Malaysia, Singapore, India, once we choose DPRD members, once we choose, yes, the DPRD has chosen the governor, vote for regent," Prabowo said in his speech at the peak of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Golkar Party, Sentul, Thursday, December 12.