NU: Transactional politics gives birth 'thieves'

Jember, NU Online
The rise of transactional politics due to politicians' immature action and attitude has apparently create possible conflicts. As a result, harmony in diversity that characterizes the Indonesian nation has been threatened and all this could weaken the position of Pancasila as the state's ideology.<>

Deputy General Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, H. As'ad Said Ali made the remarks on the sidelines of a workshop at the Mas Soerachman Building, University of Jember, East Java, on Monday (25/11).

According to him, on account of political ambition in following paths to power, the political elites are willing to do anything, including transactional democracy. 

" The democratic system in Indonesia should be capable giving birth to political figures who have such characters as statesmanship (and leadership), rather giving birth 'thieves' who became politicians," he said.

As'ad added, a number of conflicts in the country were mostly due to immaturity of the political elite in playing their political roles, saying the conflicts began to be developed by using religious issues.

"I know that those who 'played' are the (political) elites. Now those who become the victims are poor people who do not know anything," he said.

As'ad hoped that the Indonesian nation to purely return to Pancasila as the way of life. Pancasila was designed as a philosophy of life for  Indonesian people whose diverse cultures and tribes. 

"If speaking about the national harmony, yes Pancasila must be the reference," he said.

The workshop was attended by the students, activists, community leaders and a number of pesantren leaders (kiai). Present at the occasion was, the Secretary of Jember's Branch Board of NU, KH. Misbahussalam. 

Reporting by Aryudi A. Razaq; Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq