MP: Democracy Must Be Guarded So It Does Not Lose Its Decency

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Azis Subekti, a member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has reminded that democracy cannot be maintained through freedom of speech alone, but must also be accompanied by decorum, moral responsibility, and a willingness to seek the truth.

Azis assessed that one of the major challenges of modern democracy is that as the space for freedom expands, the quality of public conversation actually declines.

“Democracy gives humans the right to speak, but democracy never guarantees that humans will use that right well,” Azis stated in his remarks in Jakarta on Monday.

According to him, this phenomenon is not only occurring in Indonesia but is also evident in various other democratic nations, including the United States and several European countries, which are facing political polarisation, populism, and a crisis of trust in public institutions.

Azis noted that in recent years, Indonesia’s public sphere has shown dynamics that require collective reflection. Criticism of the government, he said, is an essential part of democratic life.

Demonstrations, media oversight, and the perspectives of academics, activists, students, and civil society are healthy elements within a democratic system.

However, he warned that not all expressions in the public sphere can be classified as constructive criticism.

“The problem arises when criticism loses its intention to improve and only leaves behind a desire to destroy,” he said.

Azis distinguished between criticism and hatred. Criticism, according to him, asks what needs to be improved, requires data, seeks solutions, and strengthens democracy. In contrast, hatred tends to target individuals, does not require strong argumentation, and can erode democracy from within.

He also highlighted the role of social media in making anger spread more easily. According to Azis, algorithms often grant more space to information that provokes emotion rather than providing complete and balanced explanations.

“Anger spreads faster than wisdom. Accusations run faster than clarifications,” he said.

In the Indonesian context, Azis mentioned that the current administration is undergoing a phase of significant change, ranging from the downstreaming of natural resources and food sovereignty to the strengthening of the defence industry, bureaucratic transformation, government digitalisation, the restructuring of state revenue, and the improvement of the management of strategic assets and resources.

He emphasised that every major policy can certainly be criticised, its effectiveness questioned, and its implementation tested. However, differences of opinion should not transform into slander, insults, or character assassination.

“People may differ in opinion regarding the methods and implementation. People may criticise its effectiveness. People may question its results. That is a democratic right,” said Azis.

Azis also invited the Indonesian people, particularly the Muslim community, to recall the moral messages in Surah Al-Hujurat, which emphasises the importance of tabayyun (verifying information), the prohibition of mockery, the prohibition of prejudice, and the necessity of building peace when conflicts arise.

According to him, these values are highly relevant to the condition of the modern public sphere, especially when unverified information can spread rapidly and damage reputations.

“Democracy is not merely the right to speak. Democracy is the ability to use freedom without losing morality,” he said.

Azis expressed that the great task for today’s Indonesian generation is not only to keep democracy alive but also to ensure that democracy retains its soul.

“Democracy, when met with decorum, knowledge, and wisdom, will produce a nation mature enough to correct itself without having to destroy one another,” he concluded.