Government Urged to Focus on People's Problems Amid Economic Pressures

PEMUKA agama Sumatra Utara, Tuan Guru Batak Syekh Ahmad Sabban el-Rahmaniy Rajagukguk, has reminded the government to focus on the various problems currently facing the people. This was also conveyed in response to a statement by former UGM Student Executive Board chairman Tiyo Ardianto, which went viral on social media after he allegedly named a cat in a manner considered insulting to President Prabowo Subianto. Tuan Guru Batak stated that the current economic and social conditions require serious attention from all policymakers. “We also remind and pray for President Prabowo Subianto and all ranks of the ministry and all leaders and elites of this nation, our nation is not in a good state right now,” he said. He highlighted several issues occurring in society, from queues of vehicles at numerous petrol stations due to fuel shortages to rising prices of basic necessities. “Along the roads we see queues of cars, trucks, buses, and even motorcycles at every petrol station because of the fuel shortage. Staple food prices and other goods are rising. The increase in the dollar exchange rate is in line with the global geopolitical situation and the world economy. All of this has the potential to invite economic and political instability,” he stated. Therefore, Tuan Guru Batak hopes the government will implement policies that favour the people, especially the groups most vulnerable to economic pressures. “We ask President Prabowo Subianto to truly provide policies that side with the people, especially the weak and the poor,” he concluded. Regarding the viral video in which Tiyo admitted to rescuing a cat with a skin disease and giving it a name allegedly containing an insult, Tuan Guru Batak assessed that criticism and freedom of expression are the rights of every citizen. However, he said that this freedom must be exercised by prioritising ethics, morality, and civility as the hallmark of the Indonesian nation. “As a child of this nation, as a villager who loves this country, I am nobody. But I am truly concerned witnessing what was conveyed by Tiyo Ardianto,” he said. He stressed that Indonesia is a nation that upholds religious values, Pancasila, and an Eastern culture that prioritises politeness in expressing opinions. “As children of the nation, as a religious people, who have Pancasila where the first principle is Belief in the One and Only God, and the second is Just and Civilised Humanity. And we are also a cultured nation, possessing moral values. We are certainly concerned and condemn what was done and conveyed by Tiyo Ardianto,” he said. According to him, differences of opinion and criticism of the government are normal in a democracy. However, this should not be manifested in the form of insults, curses, or humiliation towards others. “Please speak up, but do not resort to insults, curses, or mockery. We must not revile or mock each other, because we are a civilised nation,” he stressed. Tuan Guru Batak also invited all elements of society to work together to educate the younger generation about the importance of maintaining ethics and morality in national and state life. “Let us together provide education, teach the values of ethics and morality to all the nation’s children, so that the nation grows into a great nation, a civilised nation that always upholds religious values, Pancasila values, and cultural and moral values,” he concluded.