Membaca Ombak

Title	:	Membaca Ombak
Author	:	Chaidir
Editor	:	Mahyudin Al Mudra
Publisher	:	Adicita Karya Nusa, Yogyakarta
Edition	:	1st Edition, February 2006
Pages	:	xxvii + 405 pages
Volume	:	2 x 19.9 cm

 

A book as a “dead” object (cannot be translated or interpreted) becomes “alive” (can be translated or interpreted) until people do something about it. Likewise, a knife as a “dead” object is meaningless until people give meaning by using it to chop a watermelon or stab other people. Despite the various interpretations (especially in semiotic analysis), one thing for certain is that a “dead” object is “alive” after something is done to it. The meaning of an object certainly depends on the giver (human).

There are a lot of things we can do about a book. One of them is attaching something to it, either writing, picture, sketch or coffee spil. Giving meaning or sense to a book is not dominated by the intellectuals and academicians. As human, politicians also have the right to use books to express themselves. This is done by Chaidir, the Assembly Head of Riau in his book entitled Membaca Ombak. This is an anthology of essays and columns by Chaidir in Mentari tabloid of Riau during 2004.

Politician Writes Book

In the above context, there is nothing wrong with a politician writing books about politics. However, a politician who politicizes by writing a book can be both appropriate and inappropriate. Both activities are legal in this reformation era. The situation is different from that of the New Order, during which books of many intellectuals, men of letters and cultural observers were shut and they were accused of being the “left wing” which interfered the national stability.

A politician is in his natural course when writing a book, since, no matter how great he is, he has his human limitations. A politician is an ordinarry human who sees, feels, thinks then (with willingness and interest) writes. It is hoped that Membaca Ombak by Chaidir is in accordance with those words (sees, feels, thinks and writes) because, looking at the book, it is perceived that Chaidir is an Assembly Head of Riau who (seems) to care for the people, creative and well mannered. This image is different from the image of most board members in this country whom Chaidir refers as the black politicians (p. 150) and the political ninjas (p. 155). “Who can plumb the depths of the heart?”, proverb says.

A politician who politicizes by writing books is considered appropriate since all human are psychologically have the right and freedom to defend themselves from “enemies”. The defense mode can be by any means; a soldier with his gun; a fighter with his knife, stick or simply empty handed; a farmer with his hoe, sickle or by laying in front of a bulldozer of a businessman who tries to take away his farm; a government official with a passion for reading and writing uses his papers, pencil or computer keyboard, not to mention his voice, screaming or childish action.

It is different when a politician politicizes by writing a book. It means that the book is a media that he deliberately uses to cover up his identity (fault) in politics. This is certainly a wrong and shameful action. Such case often occurs in our country. Many politicians (also Generals) of this country, in droves, write a “white book” as a self defences over the news about themselves in the media or after being accused of being the ringleader of a certain case. The “white book” is usually written either by the politician or the general themselves or they have someone write it (in a fantastic academic language). Even so, covering up faults or mistakes is also part of human right. One question left for the common people is: “How can those politicians be so shameless?”

Writing Is More Difficult Than Speaking

This book is printed on exclusively thick and smooth papers with eye-catching cover. There is an introduction by a man of letters Goenawan Muhammad (GM) which makes this book worth reading and (seemingly) qualified.

However, if examined further, the printing and the introduction by GM are not the only things that make this book worth reading and (seemingly) qualified. Despite the facts that he is a politician and that currently all board members are perceived as the no-action-talk-only people who are continuously in debate, Chaidir proves himself as being able to spend time to contemplate, think and write on regular base. Such personality is rarely found. Politicians spend most of their time consolidating with parties and finding “tributes” for parties, don’t they?

Aside from all these, in the journey of the country’s culture, writing is still considered as a lofty practice which deserves actualization. Although there have been many poets of the past such Mpu Prapanca, Ronggo Warsito, Raja Ali Haji (p. 41) and the poets of the modern era such as Marah Rusli, Sanusi Pane, and Pramoedya Ananta Toer who provide examples of lofty practice, speaking or verbal practices (story, debate, gossip) still dominates in this country (especially in politics).

There is nothing wrong with speaking or verbal practice, because speaking plays an important role in national dynamic. For instance, the story on the grandeur of Majapahit and Hang Tuah turn out to be the inspiration of Indonesians to keep their spirit of being equal to the other nations. However, when an Indonesian scholar happened to find other data from his research result, we were shocked. As written in Kompas (March 10, 2010), according to Prof. Uli Kozok, Adityawarman who was believed to be a Javanese was in fact a Minangnese who went to Majapahit and was appointed menteri tua (senior minister) in this empire.

Looking at these facts, this country is indeed in need of politicians who are not only capable in debate and fight in the parliamentary building. Writing must be made practice among politicians because writings are loftier than speech. In addition, books, articles, papers last longer and accountable than speech. It means that if someday there emerge new data different from those in the book, the author can evaluate and write a new topic. Unlike speech which will be gone in the wind and ends up as gossip and slander.

Its high time for speaking practice to be left behind. Democracy is not necessarily expressed in the freedom of speech and debate. Although writing is more difficult than speaking, this practice needs to be encouraged. From this point of view Chaidir shows nobility in politics. Moreover, research result is more meaningful than a column.

Yusuf Efendi

Translation by Apri Widiastuti (trns/36/04-10)