Momentous Idul Fitri Celebrating a Spiritual and Democratic Triumph

Jakarta Globe, Yanto Soegiarto, Jul 26, 2014

 (JG Graphic/Josep Tri Ronggo Laksono)

Despite the difficulties for most people to return to their hometowns for the annual “Lebaran” holiday due to traffic and poor infrastructure, Indonesians remain high-spirited; they look forward to being united with their families, friends and relatives to celebrate a joyous Idul Fitri on Monday and Tuesday.

This year, however, the festive mood is quite different. Aside from celebrating a day of triumph after having completed the Ramadan fasting period, they have so many stories to tell about a great feat they have just accomplished: Indonesians have elected a new leader, whom they believe will bring about changes to their welfare and livelihoods.

Mamad, a taxi driver who decided to return early to his hometown in Indramayu, West Java, just after the real count announcement that crowned Joko Widodo as president-elect, was upbeat in telling his family about how he had sacrificed his working hours and a day’s earnings simply to wait for the General Elections Commission’s (KPU) official declaration.

Unlike Mamad, his family members in Indramayu had voted for Prabowo Subianto as the region is known for being a Prabowo coalition stronghold.

The Joko supporter recalled proudly casting his vote at a polling station in a ward where the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), a member of Prabowo’s coalition, rules. The ward chief was a staunch PKS follower and had encouraged people not to vote for Joko. But Mamad was not influenced and at the end of that day, Joko garnered the most votes there.

Matrodji, a collector of used wooden materials, returned to his hometown in Sampang, Madura, in East Java, where he was told by his relatives that no votes had been cast in favor for Joko. Matrodji was not surprised as he had suspected the influential Muslim cleric of the region had discouraged people from casting their votes for the Jakarta governor.

Not wanting to make an issue out of Joko’s victory, Matrodji switched the subject of conversation to ways of preventing hard-line elements from infiltrating Indonesia’s moderate ideology and Joko’s wish to set up an Indonesian representative office in Gaza, which he thought would be impossible. He was of the view that Joko should concentrate on domestic affairs.

Gembong, a native of Solo, Central Java, has a message for the president-elect: If he can indeed meet the Indonesian people’s expectations, that would be an amazing feat. But at national scale, the task would not be easy.

Infrastructure is key. Indonesia has long faced infrastructure problems. The closest example is the annual Idul Fitri exodus, during which travelers face the same problems again and again despite years of potential improvement to roads and transportation.

The recent breakdown of bridges in Comal, Central Java, and Ciamis, West Java, are the perfect example of failure on the part of the outgoing administration after 10 years in power. The public works ministry is a mess due to rampant corruption and markups. So, if by Idul Fitri next year the conditions of Indonesia’s infrastructure hasn’t changed, people will slowly lose their trust in Joko, regardless of how popular the president-elect is.

People are pinning their hopes on the new leader, but the country’s problems are complex. If Joko can appoint professionals into his cabinet, reduce fuel subsidies, formulate a proper budget, implement realistic policies, promote religious tolerance, build infrastructure, reduce imports food imports, promote the nation’s business environment and open Indonesia up to new investments in the same spirit and outstanding volunteerism with which people have supported him, he can endure.

The discourse on our president-elect’s ability to lead the country is what will set this year’s Idul Fitri celebration apart from previous years’.

Yanto Soegiarto is the managing editor of Globe Asia, a sister publication of the Jakarta Globe.