YOGYAKARTA - Chairman of Universitas Gadjah Mada Alumni Association (Kagama), Sri Sultan HB X, said that the democracy which has lasted for more than a decade in Indonesia is merely procedural democracy; it has not been able to improve the welfare of the community. "Apparently, the fortune of the community has not improved. In fact for them, well-being is more important than anything else, including democracy and all the rules," the Sultan said in his speech in the National Seminar on Path to Prosperity: Kagama contribution for Indonesia, in Graha Sabha Pramana, Friday (17/12).
In an authentic democracy life, the voice of the people is placed in the highest position. Unfortunately, presently this populist ideology has transformed into a new adage: 'money politics, the people's voice is the voice of money'. "Any political process almost is always traded in the form of money so that democracy is remarkably distorted in which the substance of democracy 'of, by and for the people' never materialized in the practice of politics in Indonesia," said Sultan.
He added that, in general, in a country that has a considerable number of poor people and weak social and political institutions, democracy could easily be manipulated by opportunistic political elites of the parliament and despotic leaders who offer populist promises to get them selected in the parliament or the executive body. However, once they are elected, they just expand the power, seeking economic rents and leaving the people in poverty. "The power is used as “money-making machines" to buy votes so that the process of democracy manipulation lasts cyclically following the five years election calendar," says the alumnus of the Faculty of Law UGM.
The Sultan explained that everywhere democracy is a process. It is not something given for granted, Indonesia is no exception. However, democracy is not a destination. Democracy is only a way; the goal is the welfare of the people. "In this country, political democracy still takes a long time, especially if associated with the level of the nation welfare. We still need to learn a lot and improve many things in order to implement the democracy as a bridge to prosperity," said the Sultan.
According to the Sultan, the effort that has to be done currently is to implement the democracy that can meet its terms, among others, law enforcement and justice significantly as well as improve the life of the political party by showing politicians that have a character, cultured, responsible, and have a sense of shame.
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., in his speech when opening the seminar conducted by the Kagama said since the beginning, UGM always instills the Gadjah Mada values to the alumni, namely Pancasila and the scientific value. "It is in the account for knowledge, for the sake of civilization, usefulness, and happiness of society," said Sudjarwadi.
Sudjarwadi explained that the UGM alumni have been actively contribute in various fields and have good performance in the community. For those achievers, UGM will give awards in various categories, including the field of culture and arts, youth, journalism and media, education, entrepreneurship and business, a pioneer of education, and economic development.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. dr. Sutaryo, Sp.A (K)., who served as chairman of the seminar, said the members of Kagama currently reaches more than 212 thousand people. Among them, there are more than 2,000 people with doctorate degree, while the Professors are 500 people. "They became vice president, parliament members, village chiefs, mayors, and there are many more," said Sutaryo.