REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Marsudi Syuhud encourages Muslims not to criticize each other or scold each other because of different choices in the next 2024 elections.

“Just decide on each other's choices. There's no need to brag about other people's choices. Choosing a leader is mandatory,” he said in the event, “Mutada Sanawi III”, in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/11/2023).

He reminded all Indonesians that a peaceful 2024 General Election is the collective responsibility of all parties. Marsudi also asked the public to focus on the programs of the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

“So what we see is the programs, don't scold and don't pit sheep,” he said.

Asked about the potential for black campaigns playing up the issue of religious identity, he said the public was not eaten up by those kind of issues. He added that all religions also forbid things related to the politics of pitting people against each other (adu domba) and spreading hoaxes.

“All religions forbid lies. Islam advocates being honest and just,” he said.

Marsudi hopes that each individual can maintain the convenience of elections in order to still apply the principles of honest and fair as well as direct, public, free and secret.

Earlier, Interior Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian requested that the State Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polri) actively supervise the black campaign ahead of the elections and the 2024 concurrent elections.

According to him, the police also need to resolutely deal with various campaigns that can provoke and divide the community.

Tito said that campaigning is allowed as long as the message is loaded with facts. Even if the campaign portrays the negative side of the candidate or the election participant.

This can help the public to understand the election participants before making their choice.

Tito hopes that political parties or election participants can use the means according to the rules and be ready to accept neither victory nor defeat.

On the other hand, Mendagri encouraged the Police to be able to read or map the vulnerability of conflicts in the 2024 elections and elections.

Police need to take measures that are not only responsive, but also proactive, including in addressing conflict vulnerability. This proactive step is key, including conducting patrols in cyberspace.

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