M. ALI MUHARAM
Development in Indonesia today appears to have strayed far from the fundamental spirit of the Constitution. Many parties are misguided in their interpretation of the word “development” because they fail to grasp its philosophical foundation: for what purpose and for whom is this development carried out within the Indonesian context?
The root of the problem is a shallow understanding of the Constitution. It is often regarded merely as a rigid text within the 1945 Constitution (UUD NRI 1945), without any attempt to dive into the soul contained within it. This fatal error is systemic and deep-seated. As a result, the people have lost their way, easily misled by hollow narratives, and trapped in an endless cycle of despair.
The Gap Between Theory and Reality
Why can the meaning of development and the Constitution be interpreted so diversely, and even erroneously? The problem lies in our education system. Scholars in law, politics, and social sciences often blindly swallow foreign theories, doctrines, and interpretations without understanding the essence of reality on the ground.
Our education has been infiltrated by teachings that are not rooted in local wisdom or the empirical data of our own society. Consequently, there is a disconnect between what is learned in lecture halls and the lived reality of the people. It is truly heartbreaking when a nation studies itself through the lens of other nations without any desire for intellectual independence.
Contemplating the Divide: From Max Havelaar to Modern “Partners”
Development should be born from the interpretation of gaps—gaps in thought, fate, and economy. History records just how lopsided our social structures have been since the colonial era. If Multatuli once wrote Max Havelaar as a critique of oppression, today that novel remains a relevant mirror.
We must contemplate this divide. Look at the farmers and fishermen struggling to feed the nation, yet so often ignored. Look at the transformation of “subtle oppression” in online motorcycle and taxi drivers who are dubbed “partners,” when in reality, they work like slaves for application owners.
The founders of the Republic—Sukarno, Hatta, Yamin, Supomo, Radjiman Wedyodiningrat—built a vision of Indonesia to fully liberate the people. They envisioned a community that is self-reliant, mutually serving, and working together (gotong-royong) for collective prosperity.
Reorienting Development: Not Just Growth Figures
True development must be grounded in siding with the common people and strengthening a self-reliant economy. Development must be participatory, emancipatory, and socially just. It must be able to fill the stomach, satisfy the thirst for religious morality, and build equality among humans.
Development is not merely an instrument to satisfy a lust for power or the accumulation of fleeting individual wealth. Your self-interest is not a trivial matter, Bung, but your money, power, and networks will only laugh when you die. They do not follow you into the grave.
Therefore, Indonesia’s development must not be packaged as mere economic growth. Building a factory that absorbs 10,000 workers looks good on paper because they will have money. However, if the workers within are not prosperous, if the work is unsustainable and inhumane, then it is simply a new model of oppression. Let it not be that for the sake of money, we become easily controlled—told to sit quietly waiting for a promise of happiness that ultimately turns us into the oppressors ourselves.
Concrete Steps: Duty Above Rights
So, what can we do? Development can start in the simplest ways:
Tidy Yourself Up: Start with your bedroom, your appearance, and the way you act. There is no need for grand schemes to change society if your own life is a mess.
Respect Your Parents: Listen to the grievances of those who have “bled” to raise you. Help them with your strength, for they are no longer in their prime.
Be Sensitive to Your Environment: Go down directly to your neighbourhood, school, or campus. Absorb the wisdom from the lives of the people there. Perhaps the solution to the problem you’ve been searching for lies in their stories.
Perform Your Duties: Fulfill your obligations, no matter how small—pay your dues—with all your stamina, physical ability, and the sincerity of your heart. By upholding our duties, we are actually safeguarding the rights of all humanity.
Rather than constantly demanding rights that offer only fleeting happiness followed by emptiness, it is better to stand firm in upholding our duties. What is the point of having a mountain of money if, as it turns out, chatting and maintaining good relations with the old men in your housing complex feels far more satisfying?
