REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Amril Jambak
Quoting id.wikipedia.org, Dagelan (the word originally from Java meaning slapstick) is kind of joke or funny scene. In Malay, it is dubbed “alan-alan”. Meanwhile in Jakarta’s dialect it is dubbed “bebodoran”.
Dagelan is one of traditional culture that is spontaneous. The performance of this art does not use any script or text pointing out a scenario but spontaneously improvising the conversation among the artists. It is based on a short story that then being developed by the artists on stage. The funny moments are created from the movement, speaking styles, or the content of conversation. Since it is a parody, realistic effect must be avoided.
In dagelan, a woman role is often played by a man. In a long theatrical performance, dagelan usually appears as a variation or for ice breaking. For example, if the drama has two scenes, during the scenes shifting dagelan is usually played. Yet, there are sometimes full dagelan shows that can last for 4 – 5 hours consisting of 1 full scene.
Related to the political situation, we can see the dagelan performance on TV lately. The latest is when the upset President Jokowi summoned two of his cabinet ministers who openly conflicting in public sphere including Twitter. Who they are still becomes mystery. But, on 29 February 2016, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Resources Rizal Ramli posted a meme in his Twitter. In the meme there is a facial picture of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Sudirman Said and a quote “Do not create polemics, Pretending struggle for people, cheating, claiming knows everything, and trying to change the investors of Masela, just stop cheating the people. Because one day your dirty intentions will reveal itself,” Sudirman Said. This post was then commented by Rizal Ramli himself via his twitter account @RamliRizal saying (in translation) “OMG..he is busy analyzing his own behavior..it is so funny..,” as quoted by detikcom on Thursday (3/3/2016).
In the time in the real world, Rizal Ramli and Sudirman Said are in the middle of dispute regarding the plan to develop Bloc Masela. ESDM Ministry is now analyzing the development of Maluku Province particularly in southern part to make sure that the development of Masela Bloc will benefit all people of Indonesia especially in Maluku Province. The analysis will also include budget analysis to determine whether the project will be onshore or offshore.
Related to this, Sudirman ask everybody to not create any polemic before the analysis by ESDM Ministry finishes. He will also make sure that the President will take a decision that create maximum benefit for people of Maluku, Indonesia, and many parties. Apparently, this statement has triggered Rizal Ramli to comment on social media.
This is not the first time Rizal Ramli get involved in a conflict with the member of cabinet in public. Last August, just a week after his inauguration as Coordinating Minister of Maritime, he criticized the plan to purchase Airbus 350 by Garuda Indonesia. He was afraid that the purchase of 90 aircraft amounted Rp 266 trillion will make Garuda bankrupt. The critics was pointed to the Minister of State Owned Enterprise (BUMN) Rini Soemarno who oversees PT Garuda Indonesia. This feud was then mediated by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
A month later, in September 2015, Rizal Ramli again get involved in a dispute with another cabinet member. He criticized ESDM Ministry’s program to build 35 thousands Megawatt power plant. He said that, the electricity project will be more realistic if only target 16 thousands MW for the next 5 years. This critic was responded harshly by President Jokowi advising that the duty of a coordinating minister is to find out solution, not giving comments in public sphere.
The conflict between Rizal Ramli and Sudirman Said resume in October 2015 regarding the extension plan of PT Freeport Indonesia contract, but it can soon be appeased. Is it true, therefore, that Rizal Ramli’s chirps have created a rumble in the cabinet ?
For me, or maybe for the public, this rumble is like a dagelan. Just like a movie, to attract the sympathy of the viewers there must be a scene or two dagelan to be displayed to public to make it exiting then being remembered. This is good for a movie, but not in government. It is very inappropriate for public to see such rumble. This will only create bad impression of Jokowi’s administration.
Therefore, President Jokowi should warn his ministers to not display the internal disputes to public. Should the disputes have been resolved, public then may know. Unfortunately, in these public-displayed disputes so far, the President seemingly show ignorance so that they keep repeating. In this sense, Jokowi’s leadership will obviously be challenged. Don’t let these ministers’ dagelan lead to country of Dagelan!***
*) Amril Jambak, a researcher in Lembaga Studi Informasi Strategis Indonesia (LSISI).
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