Jusuf Kalla: Rizieq becomes an indicator of the disappearance of democracy in Indonesia

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – Former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, assessed that the absence of a leadership that can absorb the aspirations of the people is the cause of a number of problems involving the Front of Islamic Defenders (FPI).

“There is a void, once there is a charismatic leader or someone who dares to offer an alternative, people support him. The Rizieq problem is an indicator that there is a process that needs to be improved in our democratic system, ”he said in the Nationality Webinar, quoted from YouTube PKSTV, on Friday (11/20/2020).

In addition, he considered that there was a void in the system or form of democracy, especially in those related to Islamic ideology, which was filled by the figure of Rizieq Shihab.

JK also criticized the elected leaders of the people, but was reluctant to listen to the aspirations of the people. This, he said, could eventually return Indonesian democracy to ‘street democracy’ because people were disappointed.

“We do not allow ourselves to return to street democracy, this could return if the elected representatives do not pay attention to aspirations like that,” he said.

Meanwhile, the president of the PKS, Ahmad Syaikhu, also recalled that the current crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic could threaten the democratic system of Indonesia, that is, the development of oligarchies and authoritarianism.

According to him, it takes a force to carry out protest, social control or opposition to maintain the balance of the system.

As is known, the return Rizieq Shihab grab the public’s attention. Since his return, tens of thousands of people have picked up the FPI Grand Priest at Cengkareng’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on 10 November.

Not long ago, Rizieq held a wedding ceremony and memorial for the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday on Saturday (11/14/2020). At least 10,000 people attended. But due to this incident, the Chief of Police withdrew the Kapolda Metro Jaya and Kapolda West Java.

Additionally, Polda Metro Jaya summoned DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan along with several members of his staff to ask the crowd for clarification at the Rizieq Shihab event. The Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil, was also summoned by the Bareskrim to the National Police headquarters for questioning about Rizieq’s agenda in Megamendung, West Java.