Andi A. Mallarangeng is not afraid to speak his mind<\/p>\n
By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): As a young activist, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng
\ndreams of democracy. The dream led him to a scholarship from the
\nWorld Bank and study comparative politics at the University of
\nNorthern Illinois in the United States.<\/p>\n
He never dreamed, however, that one day he would help draft a
\npolitical law that would become the base of Indonesian democracy.
\nAt least, not this soon.<\/p>\n
After finishing his doctorate degree in the U.S., Andi went to
\nteach comparative politics at Hasanuddin University in October
\n1997. His thesis, \"The Contextual Analysis on Indonesian
\nElectoral Behavior,\" caught the attention of Ryaas Rasyid, an
\nofficial at the Ministry of Home Affairs who was in charge of
\ndrafting the political law, and was impressed into recruiting
\nAndi to join the committee.<\/p>\n
From then on, Andi's life has been evolving around law-making
\nand especially around preparations for the elections.<\/p>\n
Politics, however, is nothing new to him. When he was a
\nstudent at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Andi was
\ninvolved with the Association of Muslim Students (HMI) and his
\nfaculty's student senate.<\/p>\n
Andi's presence on the General Elections Committee (KPU) and
\nlaw-making team, however, raised a few eyebrows and if not,
\nfists. Many doubted him at his young age, while others were
\nenraged by his offbeat comments.<\/p>\n
On June 11, Andi was almost involved in a physical brawl with
\nfour other members of the committee who were party
\nrepresentatives, while last week eleven other representatives
\nwalked out after Andi and Adnan Buyung Nasution made a
\ncontroversial comment. They said parties who get less than 2
\npercent of the vote should not join the next elections. Andi had
\nearlier criticized fellow committee members who demanded a big
\nsalary even before they started work.<\/p>\n
Although he is vocal, his easygoing nature and trademark
\n\"What's up boss?\", put many people at ease when speaking with
\nhim.<\/p>\n
Speaking with a strong Sulawesi accent, Andi is easy to joke
\nwith while his intonation voices his idealism.<\/p>\n
Andi was born on March 14, 1963, in Ujungpandang. His marriage
\nto Fitri Cahyani, a fellow student at UGM, at the age of 21, has
\ngiven him two children, whom he rarely sees lately. His schedule
\nsometimes forces him to stay up until late at night and he said,
\n\"my wife even mentioned our family vacation is long overdue\".<\/p>\n
The following is an excerpt of an interview with The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
Question: Most of the scholarships you received for
\npostgraduate studies came from sources abroad. Do you feel that
\nthe academic system in Indonesia should try to reward scholars in
\na better way?<\/p>\n
Answer: The assistantships I received were great since it made
\nit possible for those who were interested to become scholars to
\npursue postgraduate education. We just have to work for the
\nuniversity for 20 hours a week, and in return receive some perks
\nsuch as a free apartment and a study room at the library to
\nstudy, etcetera.<\/p>\n
I think Indonesia should adopt a similar kind of reward.
\nUnfortunately, the assistance given at the doctorate level in
\nIndonesia is meager, not more than Rp 500,000, which is so
\nlittle.<\/p>\n
In the private sector, however, a person with my background
\nwould be rewarded in folds. I think this is the reason why many
\nof the brightest students choose not to return to the academic
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
This would create problems in the future because those who
\nstay are considered second grade. Considering it as the beginning
\nof the real world, in terms of human resources. When the
\neducation sector does not perform, other sectors will feel the
\nimpact.<\/p>\n
But those who stay within the academics are those who have
\nstrong motivation.<\/p>\n
In my case, some people think I am just crazy.<\/p>\n
Q: So you must be really idealistic to return to academic life,
\nnot say business, following your studies abroad?<\/p>\n
A: Since the beginning, while I was a student I consider teaching
\nas my life. I also think that this is the only place where I can
\nmaintain my integrity. At least in this community I can speak up.
\nI can have what you would call kebebasan mimbar (freedom of
\npodium). On the other hand it is also very morally satisfying.
\nGoing into the private sector is just not my call.<\/p>\n
Q: It seems that you practiced freedom of podium to the
\ncommittee, especially regarding the walk-out incident last week?<\/p>\n
A: (Laughing hard) Well I think that is reform. (smile)
\nDifferences should be respected. But unfortunately, we are still
\nin a transition. Some people understand this, but others don't.
\nUnfortunately, some members of the committee don't.<\/p>\n
Q: Are you the youngest person in the committee?<\/p>\n
A: Among the government representatives, I am the youngest, but
\nthere are party representatives who are younger than me.
\nBut yes, being young sometimes can be a problem in politics.<\/p>\n
Q: Due to seniority maybe?<\/p>\n
A: In Indonesia, maturity in politics seems to be related with
\nage. One needs to have certain flying hours in order to be
\nrecognized as a mature and capable enough person in politics.
\nWhen you are young, many people just look down to you as anak
\nkemarin sore (green horn) and then quip,\"I know better than you\".<\/p>\n
I've thought at times that they are the ones who just don't
\nhave an understanding of new ideas. And I know that young people
\nknow better about new ideas.<\/p>\n
Right now, ideas can fly through many channels and people can
\nattain so much knowledge through reading and studying. Age
\nsometimes does not give you an advantage if you do not read and
\nstudy.<\/p>\n
Q: How do you feel to be so young and yet be able to have the
\nchance to make some changes?<\/p>\n
A: I did my doctorate thesis on elections during the New Order
\nera and I was lucky to be able to contribute so soon. When I was
\nchoosing the topic for my dissertation, people were laughing at
\nme because, as one of my friends teased \"you know the results
\nbefore the elections itself is conducted\".<\/p>\n
But someone has to study elections in Indonesia. Someone has
\nto study why under the authoritarian system and intimidation
\nthere were still those 30 percent who vote with their conscious.<\/p>\n
Also, someone has to learn about elections because when the
\nauthoritarian system broke down and we wanted to enter a new
\ndemocratic system, the first thing to come was the elections.<\/p>\n
Elections are the beginning of institutionalizing a democratic
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
If nobody studies this field, then no one will know about a
\nmultiparty system.<\/p>\n
So, I was happy to be given the chance to contribute something
\nto Indonesia and democracy... although I haven't been able to
\nget enough sleep for one year. (laugh)<\/p>\n
Q: In the new political law that you took part in drafting, was
\nthere any point that did not get approved by the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) but you wished went through, now that the
\nelections process is nearly over?<\/p>\n
A: There were so many ideas that we had in the beginning which
\nwere rejected by DPR.<\/p>\n
We wished to have a district system, where people vote for a
\nperson to be a representative.<\/p>\n
Regarding the committee structure, we proposed for a third
\ncomponent, which was the civil society component other than
\ngovernment and party representative.<\/p>\n
The component would consist of independent members of society
\nwith high integrity and the respect of society who would lead the
\ncommittee. This way, we could get a committee that is less
\npartisan and more independent both from the government and the
\npolitical party. But unfortunately the idea was rejected.<\/p>\n
Q: Now that you are on the committee, do you wish these ideas
\nwere approved?<\/p>\n
A: Of course, but unfortunately we were not talking with ordinary
\npeople then. We were talking with party elite who carry their
\nparty, as well as their own individual interest. And partisanship
\nkills ideas, even though it is just a very simple idea.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, in the committee a similar partisanship occurs.<\/p>\n
Ideas are usually rejected just because either one thought the
\nidea would harm his party or just merely because the idea could
\nnot be understood. Or at times even because it was just
\n\"western\".<\/p>\n
Q: But you've studied democracy, and doesn't democracy itself
\nseem to be more of a western concept than a traditional one ...<\/p>\n
A: Sometimes people reject ideas that exist in other democracies,
\nby stating that these ideas are against our own identity.<\/p>\n
What they call identity is actually misleading because the
\nidentities are ideas that were manufactured by the New Order
\nregime and implanted in us as an identity.<\/p>\n
The idea of elections is western in concept, but actually it
\nis nothing foreign to our culture.<\/p>\n
Through the elections of village chiefs in Java, we actually
\nhave these seeds of democracy.<\/p>\n
Modern elections, however, are something new. In our
\nConstitution, there is not a single word of \"elections\", yet it
\nis the only way in the civilized world to solve a problem, to
\nelect leaders and government and to give legitimacy to a new
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
If you look back, the Republic of Indonesia is also a western
\nconcept. There has been no republic before here and if I am not
\nmistaken, from the 62 members of the Working Board for the
\nPreparation of the Indonesian Independence (BPUPBKI), of our
\nfounding fathers, 58 chose republic, and only two chose monarchy.<\/p>\n
This means the founding fathers decided to adopt a western
\nconcept, not because it was western, but because it was for
\npeople and the only way to ensure the sovereignty of people.<\/p>\n
You have to look at the substance of whether it is good or
\nnot. Not because it is foreign. If you reject it just because it
\nis foreign, then you have to reject the republic and the
\nparliament.<\/p>\n
Q: It seems that you come from a strong Muslim background?<\/p>\n
A: Yes, my family came from a santri background of Nahdatul
\nUlama. But I was also brought up with HMI tradition which is
\nmodernistic Muslim.<\/p>\n
So, culturally I am an NU but theologically I am leaning more
\ntoward the Muhammadiyah side.<\/p>\n
Q: Since you come from such a background, and yet studied the
\nwestern government system, how do you see Islam and democracy
\ncomplement each other?<\/p>\n
A: Islam and democracy are really compatible. The only issue is
\nthat the interpretation of Islam varies from one school of
\ntradition to another.<\/p>\n
My perception is that it is very compatible because God
\ncreated us as Khalifah (leader) and gave us reason and the chance
\nto do what we thought is good.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, some people have the narrow view that there
\nis no sovereignty of people, only the sovereignty of God. But who
\nknows about God and His will? In many cases, these people who
\nstrongly suggest that this and that is the will of God, are
\nactually speaking of their own will in the name of God.<\/p>\n
For me, democracy is humble.<\/p>\n
It is based on people's will, not God's will. Democracy is
\nwhat people think God wanted. But it is people who are thinking.
\nSo if something is wrong it is people who are to be blamed.<\/p>\n
Islam is very democratic, and very open to interpretation
\naccording to the context, because there is so much tradition
\ninvolved. The key is to see Islam in this new era.<\/p>\n
Q: Both you and your brother (Rizal Mallarangeng) were known as
\nvocal activists during your youth. Is there any influence on how
\nthe two of you were brought up?<\/p>\n
A: Well, we were both activists. I was in HMI and he was in group
\ndiscussion. During that time, if you were an activist you
\nunderstood about power. Power that is oppressed upon you.<\/p>\n
We understood about freedom of expression, because we could
\nnot express it. We were dreaming about democracy, because you
\ncould not have it. Then, it seemed that everything that was
\noppressed upon us came down to power and politics.<\/p>\n
This dream that was taken from us while we were students made
\nmy brother and I want to study politics, to know what happened,
\nto know why we were treated like that.<\/p>\n
I was in HMI during my student years, and we were in the
\nbeginning of the process to build this network of student
\nmovement. But during my generation we were not able to have
\nstreet demonstrations, only small ones. For example, we protested
\nagainst the restriction of wearing jilbab (a head scarf) on
\ncampus.<\/p>\n
So we mainly channeled our energy through discussion groups. I
\nthink these activities were the embryo of later student
\nmovements.<\/p>\n
For me personally, it is a wonderful feeling that part of the
\ndream came true, that I was still able to see a multiparty
\nelection, and I was involved with it right from the beginning.
\nMy brother should be envious of me right now. (laugh)<\/p>\n
Q: Is there any regret you have on leaving your job in
\nUjungpandang at the University of Hasanuddin?<\/p>\n
A: I am still not used to life in Jakarta. Maybe because I am
\nmore of a small town person. I have yet to find a spot where I
\ncan enjoy myself in this big city.<\/p>\n
The only thing I really regret is that during this whole
\nprocess, my productivity in writing and researching is really
\nlow. But I always say to myself, and at times to my wife, \"Well
\nwhen this is over, I am going to go back to my normal life
\nagain\". But my wife just replies with \"Yeah, right\".<\/p>\n
I do not see much of my family lately.<\/p>\n
Q: So after all of this, what's ahead of you?<\/p>\n
A: If I was asked today to resign by the President or by the
\ngovernment, I would just return the Kijang I was lent by the
\ncommittee and follow my destiny. I just do the best I can and
\nmaybe I'll go back to campus life.<\/p>\n
I would like to write books and do research again. I have lots
\nof ideas following the elections and there is a lot of research
\nto be done on political and electoral behavior. There has been a
\nlot of data coming in and I would like to study it.<\/p>\n
Q: No ambition to hold an electorate office?<\/p>\n
A: Nope. I've never thought about it.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/andi-a-mallarangeng-is-not-afraid-to-speak-his-mind-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }