Luhut Claims People And Parties Want Election Postponement, Observer: State Elites Don't Play With Fire

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, believes that Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, must prove his claim regarding data on people's aspirations and some party cadres want the 2024 election to be postponed.

Because according to him, Luhut's claim contradicts the survey results where most respondents do not want the 2024 election to be postponed.

Jamiluddin said, as an executive officer, Luhut should not join in voicing the postponement of the 2024 General Election. Luhut should only carry out its duties and functions.

"It is strange that Luhut seems to be the spokesman for a political party. Unfortunately, political parties have rejected Luhut's claim", said Jamiluddin in Jakarta, Sunday, March 13.

Therefore, he continued, it would be logical if many parties questioned Luhut's motivation for submitting the claim. The question is getting stronger given the speculation of the palace's involvement in the postponement of the 2024 election.

"This speculation should be clarified by the Luhut so that public suspicion of the palace as in delaying the election can be minimized. Without clarification, the public will continue to suspect the palace's statements, including Luhut, regarding the postponement of the election", explained Jamiluddin.

With the increasing number of executive officials who are voicing the postponement of the election, said Jamiluddin, it will naturally make politics in the country noisier. This will have an impact on the slowing down of economic growth in the country.

"Political commotion will become more widespread if the government and coalition parties succeed in postponing the election. Pro-democracy people will firmly reject it", he said.

Jamiluddin added that the conflict of interest between the two poles would make politics in the country more uncertain. It is feared that this situation will give rise to the political chaos that endangers the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

"Children of the country who love the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia certainly do not want that to happen. Therefore, the country's elite should not play with fire regarding the postponement of the election", he said.