Indonesia is made up of various ethnic groups and religions. These natural identities should be directed at strengthening national politics.

SEMARANG | KBA — Political observer at Universitas Diponegoro (Undip) Semarang, Dr. Teguh Yuwono S, M. Pol. Admin believed that it was time for the public not to think about identity politics regarding presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election. But to change it with a national political mindset.

“Identity politics in Indonesia should not think about certain ethnic groups, certain religions, because identity is natural. When we were born, we couldn’t ask to be Javanese, so Chinese, so Arab, so Ambonese. It’s a natural gift from God,” explained Teguh to KBA News, Friday, September 30, 2022.

Thus, identity politics should be directed to national politics that Indonesia was built from various religions, ethnicities and so on.

“We must remember that the founders of this nation were from various ethnic groups and religions. In the past, the struggles were carried out by Jong Java, Jong Sunda, Jong Islamic, Jong Arab, and others, those who built Indonesia, so this national political education should strengthen single diversity, diversity, pluralism,” said the Vice Dean of FISIP Undip.

Furthermore, Teguh responded to the issue that a presidential candidate or a vice presidential candidate for Indonesia must come from a certain ethnicity or religion. Including the description of the presidential/vice presidential candidates in the upcoming 2024 presidential election who was said to be the figure of Anies Baswedan.

“What we should consider now is not about ancestry, but we should think that the founders of this nation are from various ethnic groups and religions,” he said.

In Teguh’s opinion, we should consider their performance, educational background, and achievements so far. It was not identity politics that was being brought up, but national politics.

“So I think we have to develop and not be compartmentalized in identity politics,” he added.

Teguh also emphasized that none of the constitutions stated that Indonesian citizens (WNI) were those who came from a certain religion or ethnicity.

Teguh explained, according to Article 2 of Law no. 12/2006, those who became Indonesian citizens were people of the original Indonesian nation and people of other nations who are ratified by the law as citizens.

“The law also states that the definition of a native Indonesian is an Indonesian citizen since his birth and has never received another citizenship of his own free will,” said Teguh. (kba)

Source: kbanews.com

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