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Saudi king and Indonesia's hypocrisy, opportunism
In economic terms, the visit to Indonesia did not do much to boost the relationship, which has never been fast and furious in any case.
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Saudi Arabia's King Salman. (State Palace/Leily Rachev)
W
hen my older sister who lives in Germany came to Indonesia recently, we gave her the royal treatment. Well, she’s family after all and had not visited in 12 years.
So if a family member hadn’t visited in 47 years, the royal treatment would be quadrupled, right? Well, that’s how long it had been since a Saudi monarch had come to Indonesia. The last time was the visit of King Faisal in 1970, so when King Salman of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia came in February the reception was pretty over the top.
Family member? Yes, being Muslims, we are all members of the ummah (community of Muslims), which for some is even more meaningful than being connected by blood. Our qibla (direction Muslims face when praying) is toward Mecca, but more than that, lately Saudia Arabia is our qibla for many things we consider to be part of our Muslim identity.
Arabic-style attire is one example, but more importantly the adoption of a more rigid and literal interpretation of the Quran than the moderate Islam Nusantara (Islam of the archipelago) that Indonesia is famous for.
King Salman is one of the richest world leaders and, boy, did he ever show it! An entourage of 1,500 in eight wide-bodied jets, a few limousines and two goldplated escalators — because of course, one isn’t enough, right? We lapped it all up and various Indonesian dignitaries and political leaders were falling over themselves to pay obeisance to the custodian of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina that Muslims make pilgrimages to. Well, at least we got the extra haj quota we were hoping for.
So why did he come after all this time, and at the age of 80, when most octogenarians would be ensconced in rocking chairs? Is it simply “the ties of Islam?” In economic terms, the visit to Indonesia did not do much to boost the relationship, which has never been fast and furious in any case (see “Saudi King Salman’s visit to Indonesia: Bound by ties of Islam,” March 18).
Since 1980, Saudi Arabia’s investment in Indonesia has been into Indonesian culture and religion, devoting millions of dollars to exporting Salafism, a strict and dogmatic brand of Islam. It has built hundreds of mosques, a huge free university, provided teachers, scholarships and much, much more. Will this now change? Whatever the case, the investments have made an impact.
