Say No to Fuel Price Increase

Ridho Al-Hamdi, Chairman at Central Board of Muhammadiyah Student Association

On Friday evening (May, 23^rd 2008) our government decided again, that fuel (BBM) price is increasing by 28,7 percent. Previously, in SBY-JK era, fuel price increases happened twice, first on March, 1^st 2005 and second on October, 1^st 2005. At the limited conference led by Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, in the office of Minister of Coordinator for Economics at Banteng Court Area, Central Jakarta, a decision on fuel price increases was submitted by Minister of Energy and Human Resources, Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

For now, the premium price is Rp 6,000 previously Rp 4,500 in October 2005 and Rp 2,400 in March 2005. Gasoline becomes Rp 5,500 previously Rp 4,300 in October 2005 and Rp 2,100 in March 2005. Kerosene becomes Rp 2,500 previously Rp 2,000 in October 2005 and Rp 700 in March 2005.

After this decision, our national politics becomes heated. Many people from various groups criticize and demonstrate in the street. One demonstration extended along HI circle to the President’s palace. They were organized by Young Men’s Activator Network, Student Action Front, Front of Farmer Evocation and Fisherman, Commission of Indonesia Paupers for Justice, and Indonesia Impecunious People’s Association. The demonstration finished in chaos. The police arrested many people among the demonstrators.

The other demonstration happened in front of Indonesia’s parliament (DPR RI) by several students. The action finished in chaos and there were three students injured. On Friday afternoon, before the decision on fuel price increases, hundreds of UNAS students met in their campus in Pasar Minggu area, South Jakarta. The students blockaded Pajaten Raya road for their action. After this occurrence, there was a clash between students and police. This caused FISIPOL UNAS building to be damaged. In this occurrence too, there were 141 students brought to the police office. The same demonstration happened in other areas like Yogyakarta and Makassar.

Many rejection came from whoever, such us political observers, economic scientists, activists, political parties, NGOs (non-government organization), etc. There are some people that according to palace perspective reject fuel price increases, such us Rizal Ramli (former Minister for Economic Coordination in Gus Dur era), Wiranto (General Chairman of Hanura Party), and Fuad Bawazir (former Minister of Finance). But our government still persists with their decision, there are even some parties supporting this decision.

As you know, fuel price increases cause our transportation price to increase. Almost all transportation becomes more expensive, like train, bus, plane, even ojek (motorcycle) and pedicab. So, this policy can not make our life becomes comfortable. The next question is what is the impact of fuel price increases on students in Junior and High School? It must be answered.

There are several impacts of fuel price increases on our students. First, the transportation price becomes expensive. If we take a bus (like Kopaja, Kopata, or Mickrolet), we must pay almost twice as much. On the other hand, if we take a motorcycle, we must pay more to buy gasoline. So, we must scrimp when we spend our money. Second, book prices increase. When we buy books, sometimes we must think again, again, and again. Will our money be enough for several days after we buy those books? Huh, we are confused by this policy. A policy which does not advocate to people. Therefore, we must say no to fuel price increases.

Pelatihan Kader TMU Tingkat Nasional di Lampung

Pimpinan Pusat IRM sukses menyelenggarakan Pelatihan Kader Paripurna Tingkat Nasional Taruna Melati Utama pada tanggal 1-12 Juli 2008. Bertindak sebagai tuan rumah dalam pelatihan ini adalah PW IRM Lampung dengan mengambil lokasi acara di Villa 21 Gisting, Tanggamus.

Acara yang dibuka oleh Drs. Dahlan Rais (Sekretaris PP Muhammadiyah) ini mengambil tema ”Menafsir Gerakan Pelajar Baru di Era Globalisasi”. Acara ini dihadiri oleh berbagai kalangan baik NU, Muhammadiyah, maupun masyarakat dan pejabat daerah setempat. Acara ini menghadirkan pembicara dari berbagai tokoh tingkat nasional. Diantaranya Dr. Haedar Nashir, M.Si. (Ketua PP Muhammadiyah), M. Busyro Muqoddas, M.Hum. (Ketua Komisi Yudisial RI), Zulkifli Hassan (Sekjen DPP PAN dan Ketua Fraksi PAN DPR RI), Triaswati (Sekretaris PP Aisyiah), Imam Cahyono (Project Officer Globalisasi The Prakarsa Jakarta), dan Joko Sustanto dkk (Maarif Institute).

Tema sentral dalam pelatihan ini adalah globalisasi. Artinya, globalisasi merupakan sebuah keniscayaan yang harus segera direspon oleh IRM atau IPM ke depan. Karena kalau tidak, kita akan tertinggal oleh kereta api zaman yang melaju dengan cepat. Ada empat kelompok materi yang dibahas secara berkesinambungan.

Pertama, membahas tentang apa itu globalisasi yang mengakibatkan dua arus utama, fundamentalisme agama (Islam Transnasional) dan fundamentalisme pasar (neoliberalisme). Melihat fenomena ini, apa yang harus disikapi oleh Muhammadiyah dan IRM? Tentunya, IRM tidak terjebak pada salah satu arus dari kedua arus yang ada. Tetapi bisa berpikir kritis dan bertindak tepat terhadap globalisasi yang merupakan sebuah ancaman sekaligus sebuah tantangan.

Kedua, membahas tentang apa yang harus dilakukan oleh IRM sebagai gerakan Islam yang berbasis pelajar terhadap neoliberalisme dan Islam Transnasional. Karena itu, IRM harus menjadi gerakan pelajar kritis dan tentunya berpihak pada pelajar. Karena itu, sejak sekarang IRM harus mempersiapkan strategi perjuangannya beserta agenda aksinya.

Ketiga, membahas tentang kefasilitatoran. Materi ini menjadi salah satu materi penting sebagai dasar bagi aktor-aktor IRM dalam mendesain dan mengelola sebuah pelatihan di wilayahnya, terutama di setiap perkaderan-perkaderan yang ada.

Keempat, membahas tentang agenda aksi. Untuk merespon globalisasi, IRM telah menyiapkan agenda aksi yang terdiri dari 6 jenis: Pengajian Islam Rutin (PIR), Sekolah Kader, Gerakan Iqra, Gerakan Budaya Tanding, Gerakan Kewirausahaan, dan Gerakan Advokasi Pelajar (GAP). Harapannya, keenam agenda aksi ini mampu membentengi nilai-nilai yang terkandung dalam maksud dan tujuan IRM tanfidz Medan (terbentuknya remaja muslim yang berakhak mulia, berilmu, dan terampil).

Selain itu juga, para peserta diajak untuk mengunjungi tiga lokasi yang dianggap sebagai bentuk perlawanan terhadap globalisasi. Pertama, pesantren salafi sebagai bentuk pertahanan ideologi Islam di tengah ideologi pasar-kapitalis. Kedua, pabrik pembuat tahu sebagai respon atas banyaknya menu-menu barat yang berorientasi hedonis (glamour). Ketiga, paguyuban seni reog sebagai lawan atas budaya pop yang semakin lama semakin mengikis budaya lokal.

Dengan materi-materi di atas, TMU kali ini menjadi starting point menuju perubahan nama menjadi Ikatan Pelajar Muhamamdiyah (IPM) yang akan dideklarasikan pada tanggal 28 Oktober 2008 saat Muktamar di Solo. Lampung telah menjadi saksi sekaligus tempat bersejarah atas perubahan nama itu.

Ridho Al-Hamdi

Ketua Pimpinan Pusat IRM

Our Real Education Face

“The teacher is admired and imitated”. It’s old aphorism which always enters people’s discussions. The duty of teacher is very weighty. He must teach, guide, instruct, and also understand child growth during in the school. The teacher’s duty is double burden.

The teacher figure must be a good figure for all students in school. According to students, if the teacher can gives a good example, hence the student will say, that this teacher is very good. Meanwhile, if the teacher is not consistent and a bad example, hence the student will confront him. And then, the teacher will get a new sill.

Therefore, the duty of teacher is not only change a stupid child to clever child, but can change a demure child to a active child, and also give an understanding to all student how know reality intelligently. We must make a school as garden and also as medium to learn to understand how to advocate the truth. The teacher’s duty is a holy duty which still underestimated.

The basic problem is we think about things only for a short time. We work, hence we are paid. According to some us, a teacher only teaches in the classroom and gives some exercises. Afterwards, we leave and go back to home. If the student criticizes to teacher or doesn’t finish some exercises, hence they are get some punishments such as running around a field, washing bathroom, push up, or being expelled from class.

The teacher is teaching and the student is learning. The teacher is knowing every things and the student not know anything. The teacher is thinking and the student is thought. The teacher is speaking and the student is listening. The teacher is arranging and the student is arranged. The teacher is doing and the student is imitate what which the teacher’s doing. The teacher is choosing some lessons which will taught and the student is adapting. The teacher is subject and the student is object.

We often hear ideas like above from Paulo Freire, a Brazil education thinker. He say, that education institute (read: school) gives two different matters, the teacher is king and the student is servant. So, the students is teacher’s slave.

We often also hear many cases about education realities in newspaper and also television. We can see sine cases, such as Oman, a student at elementary school of Karang Asih 04, Cikarang, Bekasi. On Friday (6/4^th/2004), he took rat poison, because he didn’t have money to pay the cost of UAN’s expense. The Oman’s case reminds us of Haryanto’s suicide case, a student at elementary school of Negeri Sandiang IV Garut, at 2003. Hariyanto tried to commit suicide because he could not pay the cost of extra-curricular classes, Rp. 2.500.

The our teachers not sensitive with child cases above. They always think, I teach, hence I get money. Therefore, we hope to our teachers can make education as medium to children characters building. Finally, the student will be able to differentiate between right and wrong.

There are three of primacy characteristics of education. First, learning from reality or experience. We learn not only theory, but also reality and experience in our society. Therefore, there are not more authority than other. Someone’s greatness can seen from his experiences in society, not from his good speaking. Second, there are not teacher and students. All party in education process is teacher and also students at the same time. Third, dialogue. We must communicate well using many activity (such as group discussion, role playing, etc) and also media (graphical and audio visual) which can allow effective discussion between participants.

Ridho Al-Hamdi

Chairman for Cadre and Human Resource Development at PP IRM