General Secretary of Muhammadiyah: Statement of Attitude from Campus Community Must be Responded Positively

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA- General Secretary of the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership, Abdul Mu’ti, said that the position statements conveyed by professors and academics from several universities were a moral call that must be responded to positively by the government and the organizers of the 2024 Election.

“This statement is a moral call that should be responded to positively by election organizers, the government, political parties and all parties contesting in the 2024 elections,” said Abdul Mu’ti in a written statement received in Yogyakarta, Saturday (3/2/2024).

Mu’ti said that the emergence of various statements from professors and campus members of several universities showed their concern about the future of democracy and the future of Indonesia.

However, Mu’ti also emphasized that several statements made on behalf of Muhammadiyah universities were all statements by individuals or certain groups.

“The statement currently circulating is not an official statement representing the Muhammadiyah community and the Muhammadiyah Central Leadership,” he said.

Previously, professors and academics from a number of state and private universities in various regions issued open statements highlighting the condition of the nation, especially regarding the situation of democracy in Indonesia ahead of the 2024 elections.

They also issued a petition containing criticism of President Joko Widodo’s government, touching on issues of ethics and statesmanship.

Starting from academics at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) through the “Bulaksumur Petition”, then followed by the Indonesian Islamic University (UII), University of Indonesia (UI), Andalas University Padang, Hasanuddin University Makassar, Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta (UMY), Padjadjaran University ( Unpad), as well as a number of other campuses.

Meanwhile, Presidential Special Staff Coordinator Ari Dwipayana in a short message received in Jakarta, Friday (2/2/2024), said that in a democratic country, freedom to express opinions, calls, petitions and criticism must be respected.

“The President (Jokowi) has also emphasized that freedom of speech is a democratic right. Criticism is vitamin to continue making improvements to the quality of democracy in our country,” said Ari.

Ari said that differences in opinions, perspectives and political choices are something that is very normal in democracy.

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Moreover, he continued, in the political year leading up to the election, a battle of opinions is bound to occur.

“Recently, there seems to be a deliberate effort to orchestrate certain political narratives for electoral interests. Such partisan political strategies are also legitimate in the space of political contestation. However, it would be good for political contestation, including battles of opinion, to be built in a culture of dialogue substantive and healthy debate,” said Ari Dwipayana.

Ari emphasized that President Jokowi remains committed to implementing democratic principles in accordance with the values ​​of Pancasila and the corridors of the constitution.

source: Antara