PDIP's Komarudin on Jokowi's Buffalo Head Ritual: It's Not a Bull

Ketua DPP PDIP, Komarudin Watubun, has responded casually to a ritual in which the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), stepped on a buffalo head during his first political safari in Lampung. Komarudin stated he has no issue with the act because the PDIP logo is not a buffalo. He emphasised that his party has no connection to the ritual undertaken by Jokowi. “Oh, it’s fine. We are not a buffalo head, we are a bull head. So there is no connection. The one who can explain the matter of stepping on it is Mr Jokowi himself,” Komarudin said. The member of House Commission II further asserted that Jokowi is now part of the past for PDIP. Therefore, whatever activities Jokowi undertakes, Komarudin said his party does not wish to interfere or comment. He reiterated that as long as what was stepped on was not a bull’s head, PDIP would not get involved. “So there is no need for PDI Perjuangan members to respond to that matter. It’s not a bull. If what was stepped on was a bull’s head, then we would certainly have an issue,” he said. Jokowi received the title “Baginda Pemuka Bangsa” in a traditional Lampung ceremony held at Kedatun Keagungan in Bandar Lampung. During the event, Jokowi, seated and dressed in local traditional attire, stepped on a buffalo head placed on a red carpet. PSI DPP Chair Bestari Barus confirmed the ritual was not conducted at Jokowi’s request, but rather by the indigenous community of Lampung as a tribute for his contributions during his presidency. “The ritual was not created by Pak Jokowi. Pak Jokowi was merely the recipient of the title,” Bestari said. Meanwhile, Lampung traditional leader Mawardi Harirama, who holds the title Sultan Seghayo Dipuncak Nur, explained that the title-granting procession, or muakhi, has been an inseparable part of Lampung culture for thousands of years. “This muakhi procession has indeed been taking place for thousands of years in Lampung. It is part of the implementation of piil pesenggiri, the Lampung cultural philosophy that prioritises nemui nyimah or maintaining good relations,” he stated.