Kompas -
January 30, 2009
Jakarta –
The Star Reform Party (PBR) is positioning itself as a religious party that is
‘socialistic’, by not accentuating religious symbols, but rather with a
substance that sides with marginal groups. Such a position has not yet been
taken up by any other Islamic parties.
This was
related by PBR General Chairperson Bursah Zarnubi during a break in the
commemoration of the seventh anniversary of the PBR in Penjaringan, Jakarta, on
Thursday January 29. “The PBR often carries out practical activities that
directly connect with the lower layers of society. This isn’t [just] empty talk
because the PBR wants to present a political model that is different from the
political practices of many [other] parties”, he said.
The PBR,
continued Zarnubi, is mobilising its members and legislative candidates to work
hard to hear the people’s voices. This is the reason that it does not just
visit the people in the lead up to each election and then forget them over the
next five years.
“So if PBR
legislative candidates to this later, I will dismiss members who do not pay
attention to the people”, he reiterated.
According to
Zarnubi, this is an effort on the part of the PBR to produce change in
Indonesian political traditions. A type of politics that is not merely to seek
power, but to work with the voting people and the nation.
Also during
a break in the commemoration, Reform Institute executive Yudi Latif claimed
that if the PBR can continue to show performance and draw near to the people,
there is a good possibility that the PBR will garner a large vote in the coming
elections.
“Moreover,
the PBR is staffed by young people who are progressive and work as militants
with the general chairperson who is also young. In addition to this, many
non-government organisation activists who have long been active in the lower
[layers of society] have joined [the PBR]”, he said.
According to
Latif, the theme of religious-socialism that is being taken up by the PBR will
presumably be able to provide a new religious nuance to the Indonesian people.
“Religion that is given a socialistic substance will result in the PBR not just
being active on symbols, but also on the more concrete problems that will be
faced by the people”, he said.
According to
Latif, the PBR’s position is quite unique if compared with the Justice and
Prosperity Party (PKS), which prefers to accentuate the puritanical aspect, so
that it very much accentuates the aspect of ethical purity. The PBR is
delivering an Islamic identity with substance that sides with the mustad’afin
(the oppressed), the marginal groups, by burying the puritanical aspects. (mam)
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
