Mahfud MD Asks The Public To Be Careful Of Political Game Of Identity In The Presidential Election

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD invites all parties to interpret the 2024 General Election as a momentum to raise awareness of community participation.

"It's time to build a shared awareness that the 2024 General Election will be a momentum to raise public awareness in participating," said Mahfud MD as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 13.

According to him, people who are aware of their rights and obligations in democracy are important things.

"The role of political elites, especially in today's context, is political parties to be role models in building peaceful elections," said Mahfud.

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs asked the public to be careful of identity politics that is used to achieve power.

Those who play identity politics, he continued, tend to only fight for the interests of individuals and groups instead of the interests of the nation.

Mahfud explained that identity politics is different from political identity. Political identity is a political label that binds to a political actor.

"However, if it is identity politics, one identity is used based on a primordial bond to corner and discriminate against others," said Mahfud.

The former chairman of the Constitutional Court hopes that the public will be able to assess the best candidates who want to hear the aspirations of the people, not just the aspirations of the group.

"The best candidate in the world does not exist because we choose humans. However, this election is to choose the best among people who both have fewer ugliness. The ugliness is chosen based on the measures of our aspirations," he said.

He encouraged various parties, including religious leaders, community leaders, academics, and students, to take an important role in holding the upcoming elections.

"Both by exercising their voting rights, scientific knowledge, and character so that dignified elections with respect for diversity can actually be realized in Indonesia," he said.

The discussion was attended by a number of speakers, namely Secretary General (Secretary General) of the Gerindra Party Ahmad Muzani, Secretary General of the PDI-P Hasto Kristiyanto, Secretary General of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Aboe Bakar Al-Habsyi, and Professor of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Brawijaya Prof. Ali Safaat.

On the other hand, Hasto Kristiyanto said political parties must carry out mitigation. Every presidential candidate, said Hasto, must build a cool political atmosphere.

"It is important to enforce discipline from political actors. Discipline is very important, so social sanctions from civil society are needed if there is a disciplinary violation," said Hasto.

Ahmad Muzani said identity politics will emerge when the identity of the person concerned is threatened when he wants to achieve victory.

"It is important for the winning team to convey to the bottom that this program is for all of us. This is what makes us optimistic that democracy in 2024 will be much better than before," said Muzani.

Meanwhile, Aboe Bakar Al-Habsyi emphasized that the leadership must provide a cool atmosphere. He is also optimistic that the 2024 election will run well.

"I'm sure the election will come to inspire," he said.