Drama Minus Substance

ANTARA/INDRIANTO EKO SUWARSO

Nasdem Party chairman Surya Paloh (right) accompanies President Joko Widodo (second right) on Monday evening (11/11/2019), during the party’s 8th anniversary celebration and closing ceremony of the Second Nasdem Congress at the Jakarta International Theater in Central Jakarta. Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin, former vice president Jusuf Kalla, House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri also attended the event.

The contemporary political discourse has been marked by a show of political symbols. The hugging of the leadership of political parties becomes a material satire against the political elite.

The tight hugging of NasDem Party chairman Surya Paloh with Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Sohibul Iman has become a multi-interpreted "political hug". Political speculation has been wild. Some interpreted the "political hugging" as a symptom of the breakdown of President Jokowi-Ma\'ruf Amin\'s government coalition. The analysis was denied by President Jokowi himself when closing the NasDem Congress, which was also attended by the chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The statement also sparked protests and controversy before it was revised that Wishnutama never said that and the media misquoted it.

Besides discussing the symbols, a commotion also appears. There is Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, who has raised ideas about the prohibition of veils and cropped trousers in the ministries. Controversy and polemic happen. There is another statement of Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama about the need for Muslim-friendly tourist areas. The statement also sparked protests and controversy before it was revised that Wishnutama never said that and the media misquoted it.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

President Joko Widodo (sixth left) and Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin (sixth right), along with members of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, wave during a group photograph on 23 Oct. 2019 on the front steps of Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta. Earlier in the day, the President announced the Cabinet line-up, while advising his new ministers against committing corruption and urging them to create a solid system that did not allow corruption.

The Indonesia Onward Cabinet is not yet a month old. Concrete work has not yet been seen. A number of ministers are still taking inventory on problems or adjusting to the work of the bureaucracy. When real work has not yet appeared, it is precisely unnecessary commotion that is produced. Unfortunately, the commotion is even produced from within the circle of power.

Amid the elite political drama, the public was shocked by a suicide bombing at Medan Police station, North Sumatra on Wednesday. The incident showed that terrorist acts were a real threat. Repeated terrorist acts are something that must be dealt with immediately. It is the task of National Police Chief Gen. (Pol) Idham Azis to uncover the suicide bombing in Medan Police station.

However, we want to mention that too much commotion or frequent slips of the tongue will only add to insubstantial political hullabaloo

The politics of symbols is important and becomes "entertainment" for the people. Most people already know that politics is just a drama. The political front stage and the back stage are often different or even contradictory. Political plays are often different. What determines political position is only the similarity or difference in interests.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

A visitor undergoes a security check outside Bandung Police municipal headquarters on Wednesday (13/11/2019) in Bandung, West Java. Security checks at police stations across the country have been tightened following the suicide bombing at Medan Police Station on Wednesday morning.

However, we want to mention that too much commotion or frequent slips of the tongue will only add to insubstantial political hullabaloo. This is something that has not yet been completed by the government of President Jokowi.

We want to encourage President Jokowi\'s government to focus on the promise of his campaign. Overcoming terrorism, strengthening the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and not weakening it, bringing the attackers of Novel Baswedan to justice, as well as human rights violations, overcoming poverty and social inequality, structuring political systems and strengthening human resources. The public needs to be invited to discuss more substantial politics, not issues that can arouse emotional sentiment.