L

ately, the Indonesian public has displayed many "standards of morality". At least two tendencies have been in opposition to each other.

There are those that intend to bring public morality back in line with the old religious values - basing their own interpretation on certain religious orthodoxy - and those who are critical of religious conservatism and radicalism playing a large role in the public sphere. Each has its own bargaining position in the eyes of Indonesians. The battle will always go on.

It appears that the proponents of religious morality have their moment now. Yes, Maria Ozawa, known as Miyabi, is unlikely to come to the country for her planned film Menculik Miyabi (Kidnapping Miyabi). The reason for her cancelled trip is clear - it is out of fear. As has always been the case, certain radical and conservative groups in the name of religion have denounced those who invited the movie star to visit the country.

MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) chairman, Ma'ruf Amin, warned that her visit to Indonesia would damage the image of the country and have a negative effect on the people. According to Ma'ruf, she may only come to the country if she intends to stop starring in porn movies.

Those who took to the streets reasserted the MUI's message, citing Miyabi as a symbol of immorality. To them, Indonesia is a "pious" nation, which should not be polluted with "porn". Who is not deterred?

This faction seems to have won this battle. From the beginning, the pro-Japanese movie star promised to dress appropriately.

To this point, Mohammad Nuh, the then communications and information minister, said there was no reason to reject her trip to this beautiful archipelago - which lured her forefathers to come here in 1942 to dethrone the Dutch.

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The public are neutral and will side with those whose courage is shown. However, beware of those who blur *their ideology' for the sake of political opportunity.

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What is so ironic, is that what kind of the Indonesian "image" the MUI leader intended to convey, is unclear. In fact, a huge number of Indonesian internet surfers have repeatedly searched "Miyabi" in Google for any links to her pictures. Glodok, a traditional electronic market in North Jakarta, has also been flooded with fake Miyabi movies of late.

What is more, the news about the trial of Antasari Azhar, a former leader of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which covers a certain level of "hot action", earned dozens of pages of comments.

The MUI leader is obviously not aware that Indonesians are enthusiastic about "hot stuff".

Nonetheless, looking at the war, pro-secular values have also scored well. Since the general election, the public has negatively branded those who mix religion with politics. Case in point: Political parties with religion as their basis seem to have lost their bargaining position.

These parties have not gained a significant number of votes. Nor have their cadres gained important positions in the House of Representatives in the aftermath of the election. Their hope now rests in some executive positions. Let us wait and see whether an Islamist party (i.e. the Prosperous Justice Party) can wrestle its "deteriorating" image.

What is clear is that even religious voters cast their votes to the more nationalist parties, while bargaining at the elite level has followed course.

Another damaging blast for conservatism and radicalism is that the public has cursed "terrorism". True, the suicide bombers of the JW Marriott, Ibrohim, M. Jibril, Nordin M. Top, and Syaifuddin Zuhri earnt no sympathy at all from the public. Indonesians loathe violence in the name of religion. This can be seen in the comments made by the readers of many major Indonesian newspapers, e.g. Kompas or The Jakarta Post.

However, radicals never give up. They are always ready to smuggle their ideology anywhere they believe it can grow. Note that Zuhri and Syahrir were shot in the neighborhood of UIN (State Islamic University) of Jakarta, whose academia - e.g. Nurcholish Madjid, Harun Nasution, Djohan Efendi and their students - has been known for its pluralistic and secular ideas. Thus, beware of radical ideology, which has often been shrouded in the language of solidarity and piety.

Then, which standard of morality has won? Those of secularists, nationalists, moderates, liberals, or radicals?

Unfortunately, the public has no clear answer yet. Each has scored well. Yet each has lost certain points. Now, everything depends on whose voice is louder than the others, and who is best prepared to fight for their ideas.

The public are neutral and will side with those whose courage is shown. However, beware of those who blur "their ideology" for the sake of political opportunity.