Student’s Yellow Card and The Powerful Figure of Jokowi

The act of Chairman of Student Executive Board of Universitas Indonesia (BEM-UI) Zaadit Taqwa who dared to show a “yellow card” against President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo several days yesterday triggered a public discussion, especially among the netizens. According to various sources, Zaadit held up a yellow voice guidebook while blowing a long whistle like a referee warning the offending player. Yellow and whistle can be symbolized as a form of student warning against the appearance of Jokowi’s administration entering the fourth year.

Furthermore, there are three main issues that get more attention from BEM-UI related to Jokowi’s government. First, about malnutrition and disease outbreak in Asmat, Papua. Second, the matter of the appointment of regional heads from elements of the Police Department or the army (TNI). Third, the draft regulation of Student Organization (Ormawa) which is feared has the potential to threaten the freedom of student activities. Negative and positive views are stifling each other in viewing the action in the virtual world. However, the Trend read by the author through the writings scattered on social media shows a negative signal, ranging from questioning the ethical point of view, the basis of the study used, to personally attack Zaadit Taqwa is rumored affiliated with one of the opposition political parties, health problems and so on and so forth.

Although many also praised the symbolic action, especially from among student activists and even politicians who have been against the government since the beginning. One of which is a veteran politician Fahri Hamzah who even said he would provide a “red card” for the upcoming Jokowi leadership. The author has two important notes about the student’s yellow card action, especially in relation to Jokowi’s figure on a wider discussion scale. First, related to the strong figure of Jokowi. Second, the phenomenon of blind fanaticism about pro or anti-Jokowi that narrow our minds.

First, as the news reported by Tribunews.news two days ago (02/02/18), survey results of Survey Circle Indonesia Denny JA stated that the public satisfaction with Jokowi’s performance as president reaches 70%. Only 21.30% who expressed dissatisfaction.

It also put Jokowi as the strongest presidential candidate in the Election of Presidential Election 2019. Although Jokowi electability level does not reach more than 50%, precisely 48.5%, other presidential candidates in addition to Jokowi if accumulated is still at a lower number that only touch 41, 20%. In summary, Jokowi still get positive perceptions of the majority of the people in Indonesia, and at the same time confirmed his electability position as the next presidential candidate.

If so, what Zaadit does by giving a yellow card as a message of resistance to Jokowi’s performance, then indirectly he is against the large flow of positive public perception of Jokowi. Thus, what Zaadit did does not represent a conscience or public distress towards Jokowi.

Moreover, issues raised on issues such as Ormawa draft which is an issue in the small segmentation for the students (who care about it), as well as the appointment of regional heads of police and TNI elements that are not too damaging to the public (except experts who understand the governance and governance mechanism country). Unlike the case of e-KTP corruption that has made former Chairman of the House Setyo Novanto as a public enemy.

Just to input, to get great sympathy when it comes to the strong strength of Jokowi in general, BEM-UI should be able to move to play issues that directly touch the grassroots of small communities lately, such as the policy of imported rice in the harvest season. Just do not religious issues, there are many who do.

Secondly, still linked with the previous points, in the writer’s opinion, the yellow card action for Jokowi students will not give any impact to the two opposing sides in viewing Jokowi, both pro and cons. They will still be opposed, either worshiping or denouncing Jokowi’s leadership. Although previously mentioned that public opinion is still good in measuring the leadership of Jokowi, in the battle of social media it will be difficult to measure how the real perception in reality in the real world, it will look balanced.

Student’s yellow card will only become the adhesive tool for each segmentation of lovers and haters of Jokowi without stretching the stand position of each group. This can be seen if you look at how politicians, who from the beginning did enter the line of supporters Jokowi will criticize the action. On the other hand, for those who initially disliked Jokowi, will speak otherwise.

Lately, it is not too difficult to guess the opinions of politicians or public figures in view of the prospect of leadership

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