Yenny Wahid Challenges Political Actors Not To Use Identity Politics To Face The 2024 Election

The daughter of the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), Yenny Wahid. (Instagram @yennywahid)

Director of the Wahid Foundation Yenny Wahid urged political actors to commit not to use identity politics as a political tool in facing the 2024 General Election.

"There is a commitment from all candidates not to use identity politics, and political tools to consolidate in the community," Yenny said when met at the BNI Tower, Jakarta, Friday, May 26, was confiscated by Antara. According to him, identity is an effective tool for provocation in society in gathering strength. This is because identity will give birth to irrational emotional reactions. "Because if it is called identity, as well as religious identity, ethnicity, ethnicity, and so on, people have emotional reactions, they are irrational," said Yenny.

In addition, he continued, identity politics can attack various backgrounds of society. Not only primordial circles, but also highly educated circles. "We can see in America how many professors support President Trump? Smart people, you know, how come they can support the policy of Let's say anti-Islam, the same thing we can see here also happens," he added.

Therefore, Yenny encouraged the commitment of all political actors involved in next year's democratic party. He also reminded political elites to give the same understanding to their cadres. "This must be a big commitment of all political actors. Don't use it as an official policy. Yes, his subordinates, sympathizers, maybe will do that, but immediately correct if something happens," he said.

Yenny encouraged the 2024 election to be free from identity politics. According to him, the history of elections in the country noted that identity politics had occurred, so it must be prevented so as not to repeat itself in the upcoming elections. "In my opinion, this is what we must force political figures to commit to promoting unity and unity and not using identity politics. So, moral politics," he concluded.