I

t is hard to describe the situation in the capital since the last gubernatorial election. Are people really divided into those who support newly inaugurated Governor Anies Baswedan and those who don’t? Are they really divided by religious and ethnic identities or by political and economic interests? Do these people really hate each other?

These questions may not have any definitive answers — and the tension continued into the recent anniversary celebration at my alma mater.

Kolese Kanisius high school recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, attended by alumni from a wide range of graduating classes. Some attendants were notable people who were invited to be awarded by the committee for their success.

Classical musician Ananda Sukarlan, one of the more famous alumni invited by the anniversary committee to receive an award, made a scene by walking out while the new Jakarta Governor was delivering his opening speech.

His action, followed by several other alumni, was intended as a gesture of protest to the committee because, as Ananda said, they invited a national figure who climbed the ladder by using identity politics, strengthening racial and religious discrimination and societal divisions, in contrast to “the school’s principles on
pluralism.”

As a fellow alumnus, I am among those who share his sentiment. The abuse of racial and religious issues to win over votes was all too obvious during Anies’s campaign for the latest gubernatorial election.

Anies’s blunder in his inaugural speech, referring to native Indonesians as pribumi, raised tensions even more amid the prejudice toward Indonesians of Chinese descent.

As Jakarta Governor, of course the public refers to Anies’ position on various issues over that of his deputy, Sandiaga Uno. People have expressed furor over his stumbling responses to congestion in the Tanah Abang Market area, which he blamed on pedestrians.

Although Ananda’s action has invited controversy within the alumni body, he is right about how Kolese Kanisius has instilled in us a strong sense of upholding integrity. Any high school student who cheated on their examinations, even a mere week before the national examinations, would be expelled.

We were also taught to respect diversity: In the 12th grade examinations, teachers of religious subjects require their students to bring their holy books according to their respective faiths to answer questions on life and social issues based on the teachings of their respective religions.

Several of the school’s activities also support multiculturalism and interfaith social integration, such as the student exchange program that sends Kolese Kanisius students to Islamic schools.

We are taught that God is universal, that God is present within our differences and that His presence can be felt when we live together in harmony.

Coming from a Muslim family, I experienced how studying at Kolese Kanisius has made me a better person and thus able to understand and observe the Islamic values of honesty, respecting people of different backgrounds, being hardworking, and willing to lend a hand to anyone in need.

In fact, fellow Muslims have often neglected these values, as though they have forgotten that to deserve God’s mercy, we must first show our love and compassion to our fellow man.

The values taught at Kolese Kanisius are the ones that enable me to read Quranic verses in a more humane and humble way, enable me to understand that Islam is intended for unity and universality, and not for dividing people by propagating hatred.

What Governor Anies and Deputy Governor Sandiaga have been doing so far seem to contradict those values.

Their actions have not only violated our Indonesian identity, which has been historically known for its humility and acceptance of differences, but have also risked violating the religious principle of spreading peace.

Instead of provoking society by engaging in identity politics, they and their supporters could have raised other issues against former governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, such as eviction of the poor.

Although the Kanisius anniversary wasn’t a political event, political participation is an integral part of our daily lives and hence cannot be separated from even a celebratory occasion. Thus, Ananda‘s action was politically correct.

Some may argue that when it comes to politics, integrity does not exist because politics is meant to gain power and support by whatever means possible. That’s just how politics works.

However, people cannot always make the good decision themselves.

Instead of letting people go astray toward chaos, political leaders should help lead the people along the right track of civilization. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have progressed this far as civilized human beings.

However, as much as I agree with Ananda’s walkout, I disagree with the complaints he made in his speech directed to the committee, which were disrespectful of the committee members who had worked so hard for the big event.

There are other, more moderate ways to utter his concerns that didn’t have to publicly demean the committee.

As a Canisian, surely Ananda could have done better.
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The writer, who graduated from Kolese Kanisius, is the author of Malam untuk Ashkii Dighin (Night for Ashkii Dighin) and an editorial board member of the literary publication, Buletin Sastra Pawon.