TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Muhammadiyah head of legal and human rights, who is also a former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy, Busyro Muqoddas, on Wednesday strongly criticized political elites who are collectively suggesting the idea of postponing the 2024 general election.

“The public discourse of postponing the election just shows that those in power are getting more vulgar and shameless. They fail to learn from history,” said Busyro in an online discussion on March 16.

The idea of postponing the 2024 election was voiced out by a number of politicians which implies extending the presidential term of President Joko Widodo, who is serving his last term in office. This, said Busyro, goes against the constitution and there are no logical reasons to justify the idea.

Politicians who had echoed the idea publicly were PKB chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Golkar Party chair Airlangga Hartarto, and PAN chairperson Zulkifli Hasan. The men mentioned various motives; from the economic recovery until the arbitrary claim that the majority of people support the idea of postponing 2024 election.

Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investments Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan recently also claimed to have data supporting his statement that a large portion of people back this idea.

Busyro believes that those reasons are illogical. Especially after the Corruption Eradication Agency (KPK) had been weakened under the current presidency, up to issues currently facing Indonesian consumers; lack of cooking oil supplies in the market.

He asserted that people in power are seemingly attempting to extend the President’s term. “We must not let this happen. Civilian organizations, NGOs, up to students organizations must firmly express their refusal,” Busyro Muqoddas remarked.

Read: 80 Percent Indonesians Refuse to Postpone 2024 Election: Survey

DEWI NURITA