By

Novita–

January 09, 2024

Illustration of the Ahmadiyah secretariat office located in Solo. (GATRA/Novita)

Solo, Gatra.com – The general election is a democratic celebration for all Indonesian people. Not a few are interested in entering and becoming involved in the world of politics and want to compete for seats in parliament. However, there are still many people who are antipathetic or even minimize their involvement in the world of politics.

For example, the Ahmadiyah congregation in Soloraya. So far they have shown an attitude of not wanting to get involved directly in practical politics, but they have shown their commitment to playing an active role in elections and using their voting rights as good Indonesian citizens (WNI). For example, as head of an RT, head of a RW, he even has experience in being a voting organizer group (KPPS).

One of them is Mariyoto (53), a resident of Colomadu, Karanganyar, whose daily life is as a RT. During the 15 years he was an RT, many things made him involved in politics. “At least I was appointed as KPPS (voting organizing group). “Since 2014 I have always been a KPPS officer, both during elections, gubernatorial elections or regional elections,” he said.

However, he did not show any interest in getting further involved in politics. Although it is not uncommon for political party members to approach Mariyoto to attract crowds from residents in his neighborhood. Moreover, in his environment there are several legislative candidates (candidates) who are currently competing in the 2024 elections.

“There are several, from PKS (Prosperous Justice Party), PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) to PPP (United Development Party),” he said.

So far Mariyoto has tried to be neutral in his position as Head of RT. Although it cannot be denied that he chose one of the legislative candidates because he had a personal closeness to him. “Someone became my best friend. “I support him because he is my good friend,” he said.

Not infrequently, residents in his neighborhood ask for advice and ask who would be better to choose in the upcoming election. Usually, Mariyoto provides explanations about legislative candidates because he thinks they are good. There were even party cadres who approached him to campaign for one of the legislative candidates.

“But I return everything to each person, if I choose a certain person because I am close to the person,” he said.

Unlike Mariyoto, Sugiman is a RW in Polokarto District, Sukoharjo. He chose to directly give advice to his citizens when someone asked who to vote for in the upcoming election. Because Sugiman knows this figure well and in his RW environment, this legislative candidate really helps progress in his environment.

“You could say that our village has become the target of one of the legislative candidates. “He happens to be our neighbor,” he said.

So far, many aspirations from residents in Sugiman village have been accommodated by this legislative candidate. There are also many needs of village residents who are helped by this legislative candidate. So automatically when someone asked who he would choose, Sugiman immediately gave a name.

“There are also cadres of other parties or other legislative candidates who are trying to enter. But indeed, we village residents already have a close relationship with this legislative candidate. “That’s why usually other legislative candidates who want to enter automatically withdraw,” he said.

Similarly to Mariyoto, Sugiman has also been active as a KPPS for several years. However, in this election, he was no longer part of the voting committee due to his age. “I’m 60 years old, that’s why I’m not on the committee this year. “In previous years, I was always active as a committee member,” he said.

In the management rules of the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI), people who are administrators of political parties are not permitted to become administrators of Ahmadiyah. Only when they are no longer in office or have retired can they become Ahmadiyah administrators again.

“When the chairman of the JAI national board was elected, there was no campaign process involved. We are also not campaigning for anyone. But we had been praying long beforehand and there was no campaign or delivery of the vision and mission. “It was only when we elected the management that we wrote down our respective choices,” said JAI Solo Mubaligh Muhaimin Khoirul Amin.

Nevertheless, Muhaimin emphasized that so far the Ahmadiyah congregation has always used its voting rights in elections. They strive to be good citizens by electing leaders and exercising their voting rights. “So far we have always voted, we have never abstained. “We always try to be good citizens,” he said.

Apart from being active and never missing a vote, the JAI Solo secretariat has been a voting place (TPS) several times. Its strategic location means that the local sub-district government uses this location for polling stations.

”And we are always happy to help. “Even in front of the secretariat office, there is a volleyball court, usually always used by local residents to play and often also used by mothers for morning exercise,” he said.

On the other hand, not only do JAI members choose to minimize practical politics, not many political parties also make the Ahmadiyah congregation a specific campaign target. PKS politician Sugeng Riyanto, for example, said that so far he had never met Ahmadiyah members or congregations while campaigning or absorbing aspirations from constituents in what is usually called a recess.

The man who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the DPRD does not even know anything about the existence of an Ahmadiyah center in Solo. “In the political space, they almost never touch each other. But I don’t know about other places, this is what I experienced in Solo. If we haven’t been in Solo, even if it’s him, we don’t know who it is. “I’ve never had any social interactions, let alone political interactions,” he said.

However, according to Sugeng, so far PKS has tried not to be too strict with its party colors. Because many PKS legislative candidates in Papua are Christians. So campaigns are carried out for any group or religion.

“In terms of the mahdzab, it may be different, but so far PKS has tried not to be too overbearing. “For example, in Papua, there are PKS legislative candidates who are Christians, this is a different religion, no longer a different color in Islam,” he said.

Likewise with Ahmadiyah, so far Sugeng sees no special tendencies that require them to choose or not choose because of a certain group. Looking at the stories of Mariyoto and Sugiman, both of them became leaders in their environment. This means that so far they have carried out good socialization in society.

“So it can be concluded, when they socialize well in society, society can accept them well whoever they are. Moreover, they are good leaders in their environment,” he said.

On the other hand, other politicians think that outreach or campaigns to the public can be carried out more flexibly. As was done by PDI-P politician YF Sukasno. So far, he has carried out campaigns and accommodated the aspirations of members of the community regardless of their particular religious affiliation.

“When we hold cadre formation it is not based on faith. “We welcome all participants who want to take part in cadre formation in our party,” said the Chairman of Commission III of the Solo City DPRD.

So far he has never had any obstacles in campaigning. In fact, the man who is familiarly called Kasno, often takes part in recitations, salawat and various other Muslim religious activities. Even though he has always been a Christian.

“I even took part in the salawat on stage, but I was never warned. “In fact, they are often invited to recite recitations in the village,” he said.

But so far he has never had direct or specific contact with the Ahmadiyah group in political matters. Even though he personally knows the Ahmadiyah leadership in Solo. “I know him as a colleague, just friendship. Never before in political matters. They know I’m on the board. “The conversation was just about politics in general,” he said.

So far, Kasno sees that Ahmadiyah in Solo is not a problem. Because they socialize well in society. “In fact, as far as I know, there has never been a case of persecution against the Ahmadiyah group so far. As far as I know, there has never been one,” he said.

Regarding political education for marginalized groups, the Solo City General Election Commission (KPU) has currently tried to carry out outreach. However, limitations in communication and reach mean that they cannot specifically access certain groups.

So far the Solo City KPU has carried out outreach to disability groups in Solo City. However, this has never been done for groups like the Ahmadiyah.

“We have not yet gone into detail regarding Ahmadiyah specifically. “So far only disability groups have been targeted,” said Solo City KPU Commissioner, Division of Socialization, Voter Education, Community Participation and Human Resources, Yuly Yulianingrum.

However, so far the Solo City KPU has encouraged the public to play an active role in political education. Not only will the KPU visit and carry out outreach, but they can also visit the KPU to ask further questions regarding the 2024 Election.

“So actually they can come to us to play an active role too. “But so far no information regarding Ahmadiyah has been submitted to the KPU,” he said.

Setara Institute Research Director Halili Hasan said that so far Ahmadiyah political interest has been low because they have mitigated their level of vulnerability. Because they realize that they are a minority, both numerically and politically they are weak.

“This is what influences their degree of vulnerability as minorities. So if they are in the phase of entering politics or candidacy which makes them reveal their identity as Ahmadiyah citizens, they will really consider that. “Because if their identity is revealed, it will increase their vulnerability,” he said.

Moreover, it is realized that politics in Indonesia, both formal politics and electoral politics, both have a formula for who gets what. Ahmadiyah, which are not many in number, when compared with the majority, they are not attractive to politicians. Apart from that, from a calculation perspective, they also choose not to increase their vulnerability by entering the world of politics.

“They are not attractive to politicians or political parties. “So political parties tend not to involve them,” he said.

Halili further explained that Ahmadiyah is not an extreme and closed group. Not as imagined, they are more inclusive. When they are faced with parties, they tend to prefer non-religious parties or you could say nationalist parties.

“Why do they choose nationalist parties, because so far minority issues tend to work in the context of diversity. “If the situation for diversity is better, then protection for minorities is also good,” he said.

On the other hand, if conditions for diversity are bad, then minority groups are the most vulnerable. So this diversity framework will determine. So it is very possible that Ahmadiyah tends to vote for parties that are nationalist in nature.

“Religious parties do not give much hope for their religious freedom. “It is the nationalist parties that usually continue to talk about diversity,” he said.

However, in terms of interaction, Ahmadiyah has never weighed in between nationalist parties and religious parties. Because they only focus on what they choose. During this time they can reach out to friends with anyone and build friendships with any organization, including other religious organizations.

“Recently, they have strengthened their friendships with entities, organizations outside Ahmadiyah, outside the organizational framework, they do not depend on their involvement in political parties. “Ahmadiyah also has a different motto from the others, love for all, hate for none ,” he said.

Reporter: Novita Rahmawati
Editor: MS Widodo
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