Says Postponement Of Elections Makes Sense, PBNU Chairman Gus Yahya Gets Sneered At UGM Lecturers

PBNU General Chairman KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (ANTARA/ Mario Sofia Nasution)

JAKARTA - Gadjah Mada University's Fisipol Lecturer M. Najib Azca satirized the General Chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) Yahya Cholil Staquf or Gus Yahya regarding his stance on postponing the 2024 General Election.

Through his Facebook account, Najib initially explained that he had asked Gus Yahya directly about his statement which was said to support the postponement of the election.

He then received an explanation that the proposal to postpone the election was natural and reasonable considering the current conditions from the COVID-19 pandemic could hamper the pace of the economy until the Russo-Ukrainian war.

"But then there needs to be a clear dialogue, is that really the solution," Najib wrote on his Facebook account, repeating Gus Yahya's statement to himself over the phone.

With that explanation, Najib then assessed that Gus Yahya's position as the General Chair of PBNU seemed ambiguous. In addition, such a statement is also disappointing because it does not explicitly reject it.

"His position of not immediately rejecting the proposed postponement of the election is also disappointing, at least for the opposing groups. His position then looks ambiguous even though he offers moderation or 'wasathan': proposing a clear dialogue involving various parties to discuss the ideas and proposals," said Najib.

He considered that Gus Yahya was actually realistic in seeing the current conditions that were not going well due to the pandemic to the international crisis.

"But considering it makes sense, of course, it doesn't necessarily mean agreeing. Instead, acknowledging there are complicated conditions and valid reasons for sitting together in serious dialogue about the matter," he said.

Furthermore, Najib believes that Gus Yahya actually understands that postponing the election is a difficult thing to happen. There are various steps that must be taken with very high political risks and costs.

In addition, the rejection from the PDIP, the NasDem Party, and the Gerindra Party makes this seem difficult to happen.

"Then why didn't PBNU immediately reject the idea of postponing the 2024 election—as for example, as straightforwardly conveyed by the Secretary General of PP Muhammadiyah, Dr. Abdul Mu'ti? This is not easy to tell," said Najib.

As previously reported, PBNU General Chair Yahya Staquf Cholil said that the proposed postponement of the 2024 general election made sense. Moreover, Indonesia is currently facing the COVID-19 pandemic and disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

"There is a suggestion to postpone the election and I think this makes sense considering the various problems that have arisen and are being faced by this nation," he told reporters during a visit to West Pasaman, West Sumatra, Sunday, February 27.

For information, the issue of postponing the election was first raised by the Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia. This was conveyed by Bahlil after absorbing voices from businessmen.

Then, this discourse was re-introduced by the General Chair of the PKB Muhaimin Iskandar last week proposing the 2024 Election to be postponed for 1-2 years in order to maintain the momentum of the national economic recovery.

Muhaimin's proposal was welcomed by the General Chairman of PAN, Zulkifli Hasan. He openly supports the discourse that the 2024 General Election is postponed due to economic reasons, the pandemic, and people's satisfaction with the government's performance which is believed to be high.

In addition, a similar proposal was also submitted by the General Chair of the Golkar Party, Airlangga Hartarto. He admitted that he received aspirations from farmers in Libo Jaya Village, Siak Regency who wanted the continuation of the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).