JPPUMA: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Sosial Politik UMA (Journal of Governance and Political Social UMA), 8 (1) (2020): 1-8, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31289/jppuma.v8i1.2765 JPPUMA: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Sosial Politik UMA (Journal of Governance and Political Social UMA) Available online http://ojs.uma.ac.id/index.php/jppuma

Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s championing factors in ’s North Gubernatorial election in 2018

Mukhaira Mulia Miraza1)*, Heri Kusmanto2) & Warjio2) 1) Postgraduate Program in Political Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia 2) Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

Recieved: August 2, 2019; Accepted: January 22, 2020; Published: May 11, 2020

Abstract The gubernatorial election in has been organized in 2008. Two pairs of candidates run in the election, namely Djarot Syaiful Hidayat and Sihar Sitorus (DJOSS), and Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah (ERAMAS). Championing the election, several issues have been used to support Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s victory, such as religious identity politics and the politics of locality, which exploit the identity of so- called ‘son of the soil‘. This study aims to understand how these factors work and determine the victory of ERAMAS. It focuses on two political means to find out which factors that contribute more significantly in the triumph of ERAMAS candidate. Using descriptive-qualitative methods, this study collects data through a questionnaire with ‘SLOVIN‘ formula to define population and sample selected through random technique. It applies the theories of identity and political participation with a locus of the research in a purposively-selected district in city, Kecamatan Medan Marelan. This research argues that there are three determining factors that contribute to the ERAMAS‘ victory in the Gubernatorial Election of North Sumatra in 2018, which are religious identity politics, politics of locality, and the personal influence of the candidates.

Keywords: Gubernatorial Election, Identity Politics, Political Participation

How to Cite: Miraza, M.M Kusmanto, H & Warjio(2020). Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s championing factors in Indonesia’s North Sumatra Gubernatorial election in 2018. JPPUMA: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Sosial Politik UMA (Journal of Governance and Political Social UMA), 8(1): 1-8

*Corresponding author: ISSN 2549-1660 (Print) E-mail: [email protected] ISSN 2550-1305 (Online)

1 Mukhaira Mulia Miraza, Heri Kusmanto & Warjio, Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s championing

INTRODUCTION The general election for a local leader A general election is one of the (governor, regent, mayor) by the people as political activities. It has been regarded as voters started in June 2005 based on Law an institution and political practice at the No. 22 of 1999, which is following the same time, which serves to establish a amendment of the Indonesian Constitution legitimate governmental and public (UUD 1945). According to the new representative agencies in a democratic regulations, the Indonesian President is state. As mentioned above, in a democratic not voted by House of Representative state, the general election is one of the (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat/DPR) but important elements. It has been a through a general election. This is also by parameter in measuring democracy Law No. 22 of 2003 on structure and indicators. The implementation of the position of Senate, House of election indicates how democratic a state Representative, Regional Representative is. Democracy stands a governmental and Regional Parliament (Susunan system mandated by people, and for the Kedudukan/Susduk MPR, DPR, DPD, dan people, which in this sense, the people DPRD). According to the regulation, the hold sovereignty (Sorensen, 2003). Regional Parliament has no competence In Indonesia, regional autonomy in anymore to vote for governor, regent, and the reformasi era is in opposition to the mayor (gubernur/bupati/walikota). These governance system under Suharto’s Orde two determining factors have initiated the Baru (new order). Orde Baru applied idea and the necessity of public election strong centralistic governance controlled (Herimini, 2011). by the central authority. Whereas, in the Within the process of the local reformasi era, it has changed to a election, several things can be explained decentralized governance system (Haste, related to the actual process of democracy. 2006). This aims to distribute equally the First, people can be involved in the arena product of development to Indonesian of the public domain to promote, narrate regions to reduce social inequality among and deliver their demands to the public them. Thus, regional autonomy has been and those who are interested in it. Besides, expected to become a solution over the they can also be involved in demonstration power imbalance between the central or protest to the process of government- authority and its regions, national initiated public policy considered as not disintegration, and to accommodate public taking a side to the public interests. aspiration at the local level (Kutbas, 2015). Second, people can target directly As a political practice, the general legislative and executive institutions, election has undoubtedly two interrelated either in central or regional, to voice their and interdependent functions. The election aspirations, such as through a petition functions as tools of political legitimacy related to their rejection of any decision and political representative. Other made by authorities. Third, people can be functions are to become a succession involved in the selection process of mechanism to elect the ruling political candidates for public offices through elites for power, and as a means to educate participation mechanisms (Budiardjo, people in politics (Budiardjo, 2008). In its 2008). implementation, there is a mechanism to According to previous studies on the vote candidates in local elections by the local elections in several Indonesian people, not represented in parliament, provinces, there are some striking points which has been started since 2005 concerning the determining factors in the (Syamsuddin, 2008). victory of certain candidates. An article reports about the 2010 election in the

2 JPPUMA: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Sosial Politik UMA (Journal of Governance and Political Social UMA), 8(1) (2020): 1-8 capital of Central Jawa, Semarang, which General Election Commission (Komisi relates that factors that determine the Pemilihan Umum/KPU Sumatra Utara). triumph of a pair of candidates, namely (a) The recapitulation reveals that exemplary program, (b) having a career ERAMAS obtained 3,291,137 votes, which background in bureaucracy, (c) integrity, is equal with 57.57 percent of the total and (d) good looking (Susiatianingsih, dkk, voters. Whereas DJOSS collected 2,424,960 2011). In many provinces, municipalities, votes or about 42.43 percent of the total and regencies, the local election has been participated voters. In this election, public an interesting topic as in many regions it participation increases significantly. has been improved in its execution. At this Conformed to KPU of North Sumatra, in the point, people show their significance to 2014 election, there are 47 percent of legitimate the selection process for a potential voters came to participate. While, political leader in their administrative in the 2018 election, it climbs to reach a region. Even though, according to a survey total of 61 percent of the potential voters by the Indonesian Survey Institute (KPU Provinsi Sumatera Utara, 2018). (Lembaga Survei Indonesia /LSI), the Winning the election, ERAMAS competency of a candidate is the most political campaign cannot be separated necessary than other factors in the local from religious and ethnic identities, election. locality issue such as ’land of the soil’ or Except for the research on Semarang, place of origin, and a slogan ‘SUMUT research on an election in a new regency in BERMARTABAT’ (North Sumatra with North Sumatra, Batubara in 2008, dignity) which is easy to remember and uncovers that the win of the candidate is preferred by the voters. Nevertheless, as a not merely imposed by the narratives of political expert in Medan Dadang local ethnic and religious identities, but Darmawan polemizes in ’tagar news’ due to support from a local-oriented media, several factors affect the defeat of organization called GEMKARA (Gerakan candidate No. 2 with significant difference Masyarakat Kabupaten Batubara/Batubara of voters from its opponent. The most people movement) and because of popular notable factor is that there is a major role candidate considered as close to the of identity politics in the election. As he people (Lubis, 2016). It can be argued that said, ”religious identity politics still affect constituents in the local election in the Gubernatorial election in North Indonesia do not appreciate the candidates Sumatra and ERAMAS has consistently from their vision and mission (William, relied on Islamic religious leader (ulama) dkk, 2007). to collect Muslim voters, which is the According to the research mentioned majority”. Yet, in a democratic state, the above, religious identity does not become public can participate in the political arena, determinant. However, in the North at least in three different ways Sumatra‘s Gubernatorial election in 2018, (Hermawan, 2019). it raises my interest to conduct a study to As requirements in the local election, become a topic of this article. In the 2018 every candidate has to be promoted by a election, there were two pairs of minimum of 20 percent of seats in candidates running in the competition, Parliament, which could be from a political namely Edy Rahmayadi-Musa Rajekshah party or a coalition of several parties. In (ERAMAS) with candidacy number 1, and 2018 election, ERAMAS has been Djarot Syaiful Hidayat-Sihar Sitorus nominated by a coalition made up by (DJOSS) with number 2. ERAMAS came up several political parties, such as Gerindra as the winner based on the final (Great Indonesia Movement), PKS (Justice recapitulation of votes managed by the and Prosperity Party), Golkar (Functional

3 Mukhaira Mulia Miraza, Heri Kusmanto & Warjio, Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s championing

Groups), Nasdem (National Democrats In a local election, politics of identity Party), Demokrat (Democratic Party) and cannot be avoided and it is even still Hanura (People Conscience Party). All instrumentalized to boost political seats held by these parties form 60 percent support. Identity politics is a configuration of seats in the Parliament of North that can be used to define the interests of Sumatra Province. Whereas, DJOSS groups as a political community. Politics of candidate has been nominated by PDIP identity refer to political mechanism in (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) which an identity construction—either and PPP (United Development Party), political or social identity—functions as which form 20 percent of seats in the political resource or tools (Setyaningrum, Parliament. Both sides meet the 2005). It exploits general identification requirements to run in the election. such as religious, place of origin, ethnic or The gubernatorial election in North other characteristics. Therefore, identity Sumatra is appealing because no politics is still used in the general election incumbent governor participating in it. to drive people to vote for any candidate Both candidates (pair of the governor and based on the constructed identity. deputy governor) competed in this Looking at identity formation, election are Edy Rahmayadi-Musa identity construction can be grouped into Rajekshah (ERAMAS) and Djarot Syaiful three categories. First, primordialism, in Hidayat-Sihar Sitorus (DJOSS). which identity has been inherited, such as KPU Medan’s recapitulation uncovers religion and clan. Second, constructivism, that ERAMAS won in almost all of 21 in which identity is rather created from districts (kecamatan) in Medan. In Medan complex social processes. Identity can be Marelan district, ERAMAS obtains 80 coined from cultural ties in society— percent votes, which numbers 44,515 following the majority’s favor that is votes (KPU Kota Medan, 2018). Muslims regarded as a good choice. Third, form the majority of its population in five instrumentalism, where identity stands as villages (kelurahan), namely Paya Pasir, a constructed form for the sake of elites‘ Labuhan Deli, Tanah Enam Ratus, Rengas interests. Besides, it accentuates more in Pulau and Terjun. This creates a basic the aspect of power to be achieved by foundation for religious identity politics, candidates competing with each other which paves a way for the other factors, through a general election. This is like such as locality (son of the soil of North tensions between groups for instance that Sumatra) and personal influence of Edy is intentionally created by the candidates Rahmayadi. or political elites (Widayanti, 2009). A gubernatorial election cannot be separated from political participation, RESEARCH METHOD which is voters. In common sense, political This research applies a qualitative participation means personal or collective approach and a simple technique of involvement in politics, particularly here in quantitative description. The quantitative the general election, through their approach aims to describe a situation, participation in the selection of political which is post-factum (Ardial, 2014). In this leaders, which can affect directly or study, the author describes a general indirectly the process of public policy. context through statistic analysis These activities include participation in the (Sugiyono, 2012). The author limits this election, public rally, networking with civil research to focus on the identification and society organizations, such as lobbying as analysis of determinant factors in the one of the direct action that can be made victory of candidate ERAMAS in North (Budiardjo, 2008). Sumatra’s Gubernatorial election in 2018.

4 JPPUMA: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Sosial Politik UMA (Journal of Governance and Political Social UMA), 8(1) (2020): 1-8 The author collects data through coming from a different religious questionnaire spread to the respondents, backgrounds. Moreover, ERAMAS which are the sample from the population. approaches people from religious affairs. This study defines a population as a The survey from the questionnaire unfolds general category including subjects and the voters’ reason in deciding to choose objects with certain characteristics, which ERAMAS as described in the following can be quantified and chosen by the chart. researcher. As a population, there are Chart 1: Respondents‘ reasons to 44,515 voters in Medan Marelan district, choose ERAMAS which is chosen based on the SLOVIN formula (Prasetyo, 2005). The formula is employed to choose the sample to become respondent, which is a group with 100 respondents. They are chosen through a random sampling technique. Structured questionnaires are spread around.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION Medan city consists of 21 kecamatan, districts, from which the author has chosen Medan Marelan as the locus of research Sources: Respondents‘ statements, 2019 and focuses this research to the area to bring about accurate data and reliable The above chart tells that most voters result. From ERAMAS’ victory, it is (45 percent of total voters) choose based noticeable that in Medan Marelan this on consideration of the religious identity of candidate wins with 80 percent of total the candidate. People reason that they feel votes. Based on this achievement, this of obligation to choose political leaders study analyzes the factors working behind who share a belief with them. From the the victory of the candidate. In the 2018 ERAMAS candidate's side, the religious Gubernatorial election, there are many affair has been chosen as an approach to crucial topics in public discourse that the get close with the people. In some visits to voters refer to decide to which candidate several areas in Medan city, ERAMAS they give their votes. Themes that form joined people to pray together in early political narratives are about religious and morning prayer (subuh). Within the visits, ethnic identity, locality or local identity this candidate also asked the younger (land of the soil), and issues related to the generation (millennials) and other citizens personal image of the candidate. This to join the prayer. However, it is imaged as following discussion talks about those attempts to approach the people bringing issues blown up in the North Sumatra forward brotherhood, not as a political Gubernatorial election. campaign. The candidate also visited the RELIGIOUS IDENTITY. This research Muslim women circle and gave a speech to considers religious factors as a dominant win the heart of the ’mothers’ group. element that backs up Edy Rahmayadi and Despite known as a firm and decisive Musa Rajekshah’s win. For the voters, this army general, Edy Rahmayadi performed factor is necessary to select a leader. It is himself as a graceful Muslim delivering a proved that most respondents explain lecture during his visit. ERAMAS even their reason for choosing the candidate invited a famous cleric Abdul Somad to whose the same belief with them, which is attract people to attend his lecture within Islam. They did not vote candidates the candidate‘s visit agenda. Furthermore,

5 Mukhaira Mulia Miraza, Heri Kusmanto & Warjio, Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s championing though bringing forward the religious integrated. Compared to another candidate, issue to approach the voters especially in Djarot is considered to have less capacity to Medan Marelan’s Muslim circle manage North Sumatran society with its (pengajian), ERAMAS is never committed heterogeneity though he is experienced in to using mosque for political campaigns. leading . Other percentages from the chart, LOCAL IDENTITY. Except for the which is 7 percent of voters have already above two factors, one other factor that had a prototype of their political leaders contributes to the triumph of ERAMAS, as and other reasons to choose beyond the shown in the above chart illustrating 22 three reasons provided in the percent of voters who chose this candidate questionnaire. Besides, another reason is in consideration of its place of origin, due to persuasion from the team of the which is ‘son of the soil‘ of North Sumatra campaign. Newbie voters reason to choose (Putra Daerah). People regard ERAMAS ERAMAS due to following their parents. coming from within North Sumatra as a Looking at the educational background of necessary factor. From the other side, voters from this area, most of them are ERAMAS promote its originality, ‘son of graduated from secondary and high North Sumatra‘ in some official debates schools (SMP and SMA) and only a few and claim that only son of the soil who having degrees from a university or higher knows well North Sumatra and can education. This contributes to shaping the manage the region. voters‘ tendency to choose a candidate The above issue is felt to fit with the who shares religious identity with them or context of competition as the rival of coming from the same place of origin. ERAMAS coming from outside North PERSONAL FIGURE. Besides religious Sumatra. It is the former Governor of identity, the personal image of a candidate has Jakarta Djarot Syaiful Hidayat who is become the reason for voters to decide to Javanese. Although the majority of North choose ERAMAS. The above chart indicates Sumatrans is Javanese including people that 26 percent of voters choose ERAMAS due living in Medan Marelan. Despite being to personal image. They perceive that Edy experienced as (vice) governor, people in Rahmayadi is a firm and self-respected army Marelan assume that he does not surely general. The perception is built based on the understand problems in North Sumatra. physical gestures and rhetoric style that Let alone, he did not live in any place in the impress a prestige and fatherhood. ERAMAS province. Further, though his counterpart often visits people but never directly Sihar Sitorus was born in North Sumatra persuades them to chose them. and Batak in ethnicity, he is Christian and Besides the above reasons, people not a renowned figure in the local context. choose ERAMAS due to the popularity of Edy From this discussion, the approach to Rahmayadi, who often visits them in Medan such identities has been the main reason to Marelan to build a close relationship with the vote candidate. Widayanti states that people, even before his candidacy. Their identity formation such as primordialism, people conceive Edy Rahmayadi taking care of in which identity is ascribed through a the people and qualified as North Sumatra’s family connection, cannot be separated governor, considered as different from the from political attitude as well. It is like previous leaders who got sentenced to constructivism configured by collective corruption scandals from Corruption ties of society and shared perception in Eradication Commission (KPK). This makes judging, in this case, a candidate as better the emergence of Edy Rahmayadi in the than the other (Yustiningrum, 2015). In political arena is imaged as a popular leader, actual, respondents argue that the firm as his military background and candidate who is originally from North

6 JPPUMA: Jurnal Ilmu Pemerintahan dan Sosial Politik UMA (Journal of Governance and Political Social UMA), 8(1) (2020): 1-8 Sumatra will understand the problems of are still voters who gave their votes by this province and be able to solve them. considering personal popularity of From the instrumentalist perspective, candidate, which is not a primordial the identity has been exploited by the attitude. This could be said as the move political elites to gain power. In the case of into the maturity of political attitudes of ERAMAS, it is clear that this candidate the voters by considering no primordial approaches the public from religious attributes of a candidate. By understanding affairs—mass praying, visiting Muslim determinant factors in winning an election, women circle gathering, and even involve a certain candidate can instrumentalize the women in ERAMAS' team of the those elements to attract voters. It is still a campaign. This approach contributes useful way to gain public support and significantly to its victory in the election. votes. Except for the above factors, it is CONCLUSION worthy to note, that the most important In the year 2018, almost all province factor that becomes the main reason for or regency organized a local election, one the voters to choose a certain candidate is of which is North Sumatra with a identity—primarily religious and social. Gubernatorial election in which two pairs Yet, the educational background also of candidates run in the election. Local contributes to shaping the political Election Commission, KPU Sumatra Utara, attitudes of voters, which in the case of announced officially that Edy Rahmayadi Medan Marelan, the majority graduated and Musa Rajekshah winning the election. from junior and senior high school (SMP Then, they are inaugurated as the and SMA). Also, newbie voters follow their Governor and Deputy Governor of North parents in deciding to give their votes. Sumatra for a five-year term. Eventually, it is tempting to socialize and Public participation went up from educate people to view an election as that of 2013 and previous elections. There democracy in practices to drive the are a lot of political narratives and issues political mechanism to be mature and during the process of a political campaign, bring prosperity to the people. such as religious identity, ethnicity, place of origin (so-called ’son of the soil’), and BIBLIOGRAPHY other issues including the personal figure Ardial. (2014). Paradigma dan Model Penelitian of Edy Rahmayadi respected as a firm and Komunikasi [Paradigm and Model of authoritative. Research on Communication]. Jakarta: PT Bumi Aksara. This study reveals that several factors Budiarjo, M, (2008), Dasar-Dasar Ilmu Politik contribute to the victory of ERAMAS [Introduction to Political Science], Jakarta: PT. candidates, especially in Medan Marelan. Gramedia Pustaka Utama. Some determinant factors are its religious Dadang Derwaman dalam : identity, popularity (personal and as public https://www.tagar.id/pengamat-politik- identitas-kalahkan-djarot, di akses pada figure), originality or locality (place of tanggal 12 Januari 2019. origin). Of those factors, the most Emilia Yustiningrum, RR, dan Wawan Ichwanuddin, notorious one is religious identity, which (2015), Partisipasi Politik Dan Perilaku became the main reason for the 45 percent Memilih Pada Pemilu 2014 [Political of voters giving their votes to the Participation and Voters’ attitude in the 2014 General Election], Jurnal Pusat candidate who shares a religious belief Penelitian Politik, Lembaga Ilmu with them. Pengetahuan Indonesia, 2 (1). Despite two factors—religious Harris, Syamsudin. (2008). Menggugat Pemilihan identity and local identity—have been Umum Orde Baru [Challenging General considered as primordial, this research Election in the New Order Indonesia]. Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia. found them interesting in light that there 7 Mukhaira Mulia Miraza, Heri Kusmanto & Warjio, Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah’s championing

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