JAKARTA – In collaboration with Kopel Jabodetabek, LPM Didaktika of the State University of Jakarta (UNJ), and IDEA, KEMITRAAN hosted a public discussion titled Resisting the Temptation of Money Politics: Youth Strategies for Sustainable Democracy. The event took place at the UNJ campus in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (20/11/2024).
The discussion aimed to equip young people, particularly students, with the knowledge and determination to resist money politics ahead of the 2024 Regional Elections scheduled for November 27. This initiative is expected to fortify youth against the increasingly rampant influence of money politics.
The event opened with a speech by KEMITRAAN’s Executive Director, Laode M. Syarif, who emphasized the critical role of young people, especially students, as the backbone of Indonesia’s democracy. Syarif highlighted past instances where youth played a pivotal role in protecting democracy, such as during widespread demonstrations opposing the revision of the Regional Election Law that contradicted a Constitutional Court ruling.
“The repeal of the DPR’s attempt to revise the law was a result of massive student demonstrations across Indonesia. This shows that young people are the guardians of democracy. You must keep raising your voices against any threats to democracy, including the scourge of money politics,” said Syarif.
UNJ lecturer Ubedillah Badrun echoed this sentiment, stressing the urgent need for youth to combat money politics, which he described as a major threat to democratic practices in Indonesia. According to Ubedillah, the normalization of money politics has led to numerous politicians and regional leaders being implicated in corruption cases as they misuse state budgets to recover campaign funds spent during elections.
“We see the consequences now—many politicians are entangled in corruption because of money politics. This harms society as a whole,” he remarked.
Similarly, Zahra Pramuningtyas, Editor-in-Chief of LPM Didaktika and one of the discussion’s speakers, called on her peers to actively resist money politics. Zahra highlighted how youth are among the primary victims of money politics. The election of politicians who perpetuate such practices undermines the future of young people, particularly in terms of access to affordable and quality education, as public funds are often misappropriated to repay political debts.
“As young people, we must care. Don’t turn a blind eye. Youth make up the majority of voters in the 2024 Regional and General Elections. We must take a firm stand against money politics,” Zahra urged.
