The Ummat Party's Efforts To Express Itself As A Moderate Party

The Ummat Party logo (Photo: Screencapture of Amien Rais official YouTube)

JAKARTA - National political parties seem to have opened their hands to the presence of the Ummat Party. One of them, the Golongan Karya Party. This oldest party congratulates the Ummat Party, which was officially declared by reformation figure Amien Rais.

"Welcome, if this is the right of the citizens, hopefully, it will become a new alternative to channel the aspirations of the people," said Zulfikar Arse Sadikin, head of the Golkar Party's DPP Organization to VOI, Friday, April 30.

According to him, the Ummat Party is an Islamic party that is present to strengthen the presidential system to build party compatibility. However, his party wanted a moderate Islamic party.

"We prefer to have a moderate political party. This means that we prefer that the political party be plural but moderate," said Zulfikar.

"Second, there is an effective force in the DPR (House of Representatives), both as a government force and as a balancing force so that checks and balances can occur and our democratic life leads to substance," he continued.

As a new party, the member of Commission II of the DPR also reminded that the Ummat Party must first fulfill the requirements to participate in general election contestation. In addition to meeting the requirements for the representation of 100 percent of the province, 75 percent of districts/cities, and 50 percent of districts and women's representation.

"But it must fulfill the requirements according to the law for election participation, whether old or new parties must follow administrative and factual verification," said Zulfikar.

It seems that the Golkar Party is working on it. The party bearing the shield and gold star is building an image of itself as an Islamic party that embraces all groups, from different ethnicities, races, and religions.

General Chairman of the Ummat Party, Ridho Rahmadi, emphasized that his party opened its hands to non-Muslims to join. However, the Ummat Party relies on the basis of Islamic community organizations.

Amien Rais' son-in-law emphasized that the party that was just declared was open and ready to embrace all circles. Not only exclusively for Muslim cadres, but also for non-Muslims.

"We are open to not only Muslims," said Ridho Rahmadi.

Deputy Chairman of the General Ummah Party, Mozin, also confirmed that his party is open to non-Muslims who wish to join. In fact, he said, many people in Papua and Manado, North Sulawesi have registered as members of the party made by Amien Rais.

Agung did not agree with the Golkar Party's input, which wanted a moderate Islamic party at this time.

"Certainly, the Ummat Party is moderate Islam, really appreciates differences, there is no intimidation about ethnicity and race," Agung told VOI, Saturday, May 1.

According to Agung, the Ummat Party does not close the door for anyone who is willing to work together to fight injustice and uphold justice. In accordance with the party's tagline.

"If you have spoken against injustice and upholding justice, it is the same as any religion. Whether Christians want Catholicism or Islam, as long as they see injustice then they must be with the Ummat Party. Unless he himself wants to commit injustice, of course, his place is not in the Ummah Party," Agung stressed.

"So as long as he is concerned of any religion, when he sees injustice and upholds injustice I think his house is in the Ummah Party," he continued.

So, how can the aspirations of non-Muslim cadres be elaborated in the framework of Rahmatan Lil Alamin as a conception of the identity of the Ummah Party?

Agung explained that the Ummat Party upholds Islam as rahmatan lil alamin (mercy for all creation). This means embracing all ethnicities, religions, and races.

"That is Islam for all nature. Rahmatan Lil Alamin means not humans, plants, we must protect the contents of this nature, especially humans, the meaning of Rahmatan Lil Alamin," he explained.

Agung also referred to the Medina charter. Where, when the time of the prophet Christians was actually protected and guarded. Unless the Christian is hostile to Muslims, there will be punishment accordingly.

"But if we want to coexist peacefully, we must protect them. So there is no Islam kill Christianity, Christianity kill Islam, if anyone does it, it is a criminal, not Islam. It is a criminal on humanity," he said.

Including people who claim to be Islam, who have the heart to kill their fellow Muslims and other religions. "If he understands his religion well he will not commit the murder except to people who are hostile to him," said Agung Mozin.