The 2017 DKI Jakarta Pilkada has entered its second round. Throughout the first round, the Pilkada were marked by increasing acts of intolerance through the mobilization of religious identities for political gain. This identity mobilization strengthened in the second round of the Pilgub to strengthen acts of intolerance, this identity mobilization even made the body of Hindun's grandmother refused to be prayed over by local residents. What is the portrait of the acts of intolerance in the second round of the DKI Pilkada? The Populi Center in collaboration with the Setara Institute held a Jakarta Perspective discussion with the theme "Portraits of Intolerance Ahead of the Second Round DKI Jakarta Pilkada" at the Secretariat of the Setara Institute located on Jl. Hang Lekiu II No 41, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta on Thursday, March 23 2017. The material for this discussion was provided by Usep S. Ahyar (Populi Center), Hikmat Budiman (Intersection Foundation), Bonar Tigor Naipospos (Setara Institute), and moderated by Gunawan Hartono.

The Director of the Populi Center, Usep S. Ahyar stated several important things. First, the state must take an active role in relation to the problem of intolerance. This means that the state must take a stand against the problem of intolerance which is getting stronger in the DKI Jakarta Pilkada. Based on the results of the Populi Center survey, as many as 71.41 TP3T residents of DKI Jakarta are in the category of very worried and concerned about the issue of intolerance in regional elections. Second, the regional elections for DKI Jakarta were dominated by strong identity politics and symbolic domination which led to unequal relations in society. This has implications for the emergence of social hierarchies which indirectly eliminate some groups. Usep emphasized that the strength of this symbolic domination could disrupt the principles of democracy, especially the principle of equality. Third, the results of the Populi Center survey show an interesting symptom with the importance of religious issues compared to issues of corruption or clean leadership. Third, the campaign period for the 2015 and 2017 local elections was too long, which made it possible for SARA issues to be mobilized.

Fourth, the regional elections for DKI Jakarta show an interesting phenomenon because the majority feel threatened. If we reason, it is almost impossible for 78% residents with the Muslim religion to be displaced by a governor.
Chairman of the Intersection Foundation, Hikmat Budiman emphasized the importance of the social media factor in the DKI Jakarta Pilkada. Social media is the main motive for mobilizing identity politics which can threaten the Indonesian nation. In this case, the principle of multiculturalism can backfire if it is not based on a national view. Furthermore, Hikmat Budiman stressed the importance of the state's presence in overcoming the escalation of the problem of intolerance in the DKI Jakarta Pilkada.

Deputy Chairperson of the Setara Institute, Bonar Tigor Naipospos, stated a different opinion. In his view, the regional elections for DKI Jakarta have become a stage for non-parliamentary groups. The issue of religious issues is not driven by political parties. Precisely emerged from non-parliamentary forces. Bonar further said that for now the Anies-Sandiaga candidate pair benefited from the issue of intolerance in the second round of the 2017 DKI Pilkada, because this condition was still allowed, "If Anies-Sandiaga's temporary profits. They are silent. However, I said that both (candidate pairs) did not benefit, even though pair number three tended to let it go, because they had an abundance. Even though the rhetoric is pro-national.” Even though the DKI Jakarta Pilkada should have been a battle between three political parties carrying three candidates for governor. Furthermore, Bonar explained that Jakarta residents still hold multiple social loyalties. On the one hand, the population is modern with its economic growth, but on the other hand, it still holds cultural values or social relations from the region. This also makes it possible to mobilize effective identity politics in the context of the DKI Jakarta Pilkada, because voters from the DKI Jakarta Pilkada are not entirely rational voters.

The three sources share the same view, that the state must be present in overcoming intolerance practices. A passive state will encourage opportunist groups to mobilize the issue of SARA more massively and undermine the principles of equality, nationality and tolerance.