The announcement by the National Movement to Safeguard Cleric Edict, also known as GNPF-Ulama, a coalition of Islamist group behind anti-Ahok protest last year, on two candidates to run as Prabowo Subianto’s running-mate in the Presidential Election next year showed that religious identity would continue to play a significant hold in Indonesian political scene.
The two candidates, Salim Segaf Al Jufri and Ustad Abdul Somad, were selected on the basis of three main criteria set by GNPF-Ulama, a Muslim, native Indonesian, or Pribumi, and should carry Islamic credentials and agenda.
Salim Segaf Al Jufri is a former social minister and a leading figure in Islamist-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS ) and Abdul Somad is a popular Islamic preacher.
Identity politic has become an increasingly popular instrument by the opposition camp, which has delivered them success in taking over Jakarta governorship from incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who carries double minorities identity of Christian faith and Chinese ethnic, in a fiery and hotly contested election last year.
The 2017 Jakarta election is seen by many as an example of how identity politics and intimidation, not a meritocracy, have become a key element in winning an election in Indonesia. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim took to the street and protested against Ahok whose political blunder of citing a Quranic verse cost the election and gave him jail time.
While the election proceeding remained largely peaceful, there were small pockets of violence erupted in several areas in Jakarta, which saw protesters burnt tires, cars, motorcycle and a store.
The protest and tension during the 2017 Jakarta election have deeply divided the nations into two camps, the Islamist camp and the nationalist camp, which can be seen in the nation’s vibrant social media scene.
Identity Politic
Exercising one’s right to vote is part and parcel of any system of democracy. Under its key principle, every citizen possesses equal rights to cast their vote in a peaceful and safe environment and free from intimidation with meritocracy and capabilities are the main criteria for any elected leader.
However, the consequence of rising identity politics in Indonesia creates tension that makes it more difficult for voters to exercise their rights in a safe environment. Political narratives that are being circulated constantly exploits sentiments like religion, tribe and ethnic identities to influence voters. This is a worrying trend in a nation that counts pluralism and diversity as its basic principles.
The politic of identity that has a potential to break up the elements of the nation will have impacts on all sectors. Not only the regular people who show worried about the identity politic but also business sector.This concern is reasonable, given that their experience with Jakarta ‘s 2017 election.
The rising identity politics will influence businesses in a number of ways, but most certainly it will lead to a situation of high uncertainty. Thus, to avoid being trapped in the political fights, businesses will have little option but to wait on the sideline until the dust is settled. This wait-and-see approach is certainly a safe measure considering the alternative.
Another alternative is to support all the opposing camps in the election. This approach, however, is more expensive and is suitable only for those business organizations big enough to cover the cost. The goal of this measure is that whoever win the election, the businessmen will not be seen as opposition after the election is over. The fiery identity politic will have an impact as the extra cost for business sectors in safeguarding their business interest politically.
Identity politic is harmful for the nation of Indonesia. All elements of the nation will be impacted by the dirty politics. This will polarize the nation and has the potential to escalate to a sectarian conflict, something that has not happened in Indonesia for quite a while.
Business sectors impacted by identity politic need to anticipate and provide a strategy to face any possible outcomes out of the situation, from the best to the worst, from the most conducive to the most extreme situation.
Identity politics have become a trend in Indonesian politic and it is difficult to prevent because certain groups considered it as the main arsenal in their political ambition. In the current vulnerable political situation, the business sector need to stay neutral and focus on running their business.
If the business sectors have a strong overlapping interest with political decision, the best thing they can do is just wait and see. This is the best measure the business sector can do for the sustainability of their business.
Political cost is a certainty in the way of doing business anywhere in the world, not only in Indonesia. Of course, it all comes down to the cost and benefit. Businesses need to take a thorough assessment on the risk that may come with the 2019 election. From there, businesses can determine their position and see which approach will have the least risk for their future.
Stanislaus Riyanta, TIS Intelligence’s Analyst and Doctoral Student in Public Policy at Indonesian University
