The Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, representing 50 million members and twice as many followers, rarely issues stern warnings, as seen when Jokowi declared his intention to campaign as the president. #aminkanindonesia
JAKARTA | KBA – President Jokowi sparked controversy with his statement on January 24, 2024, asserting that the president and ministers are permitted to campaign and take sides in politics.
While President Jokowi emphasized that such campaigning should not use state facilities, this statement quickly stirred controversy.
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Following the controversy, President Jokowi clarified his statement. However, instead of retracting his words, he insisted that his comments were in line with the 2017 Election Law (UU Pemilu), citing Article 299 and Article 281.
Trisno Raharjo, Chair of the Law and Human Rights Council of the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah, questioned whether President Joko Widodo’s statement was justifiable from both a legal and ethical standpoint, in his official statement received by KBA News on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The Law and Human Rights Council of Muhammadiyah deemed it important to take a stance on President Jokowi’s controversial remarks, given the organization’s national and communal responsibilities to uphold democratic reasoning, preventing its misuse by political elites for their interests.
Before announcing their official stance, the Council emphasized that President Jokowi’s statement should not be viewed solely from a normative perspective but also through philosophical, ethical, and technical lenses.
Firstly, from a normative standpoint, while Article 299 (1) of the Election Law states that the President and Vice President have the right to campaign, this provision should not be seen as a detached norm but must be rooted in the principles and foundations of election conduct, including campaigning activities.
Secondly, from a philosophical perspective, President Jokowi, as the head of state, represents all citizens and bears moral and legal responsibilities in all aspects of state life, including elections. He is obligated to ensure that elections are conducted with integrity to guarantee an equally principled successor.
Furthermore, public officials are bound by fundamental principles to adhere to. They are sworn in to serve full-time, thus should not be engaged in activities unrelated to their official duties.
Finally, from an ethical standpoint, state officials, including the president, are sworn to loyalty to Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. This loyalty must be reflected in all their activities. Even though President Jokowi was nominated by political parties or coalitions, once in office, he is obliged to answer to the people, not his political backers.
To withdraw statement on presidential campaigning
Muhammadiyah urges president to avoid all statements and actions that could trigger social fragmentation, especially in the increasingly tense election atmosphere,” said Trisno Raharjo.
He further urges President Jokowi to retract his statement that the president and ministers are allowed to campaign and take sides in the 2024 Elections.
“All his statements that lean towards the non-neutrality of the presidential institution, especially regarding the statement that the President is allowed to campaign and take sides,” he said in his official statement received by KBA News on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
Muhammadiyah also calls on President Jokowi to set a good example by always adhering to the law and upholding ethics in state governance.
“The President must avoid all statements and actions that could trigger social fragmentation, especially in the increasingly tense election atmosphere,” he explained.
Furthermore, Muhammadiyah urges the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) to heighten its sensitivity in monitoring, especially regarding the suspected use of state facilities to support a particular 2024 Election contestant.
In addition, Muhammadiyah demands the House of Representatives (DPR) to strengthen its supervisory role in the 2024 Election administration.
“Particularly regarding the suspected abuse of power for the benefit of winning a specific contestant,” he stated.
This Islamic organization also calls on the Constitutional Court (MK) to record any behavior of state administrators and election organizers suspected of fraud, to be used as material or reference in resolving election result disputes.
“This stance is important for the MK to ensure its decisions are not merely about calculating votes but to ensure the elections are conducted with all their sanctity, untainted by power seekers who justify any means,” he said.
Muhammadiyah also invites all Indonesian citizens to jointly monitor the election process, election organizers, and especially state administrators.
“This comprehensive supervision is necessary to ensure the elections are conducted honestly, fairly, and with integrity, to obtain legitimate and principled leaders, and to ensure there is no abuse of power and state facilities by state administrators,” said Trisno Raharjo. (kba)