Peran Politik Lembaga Adat Melayu Riau (LAMR) Dalam Pemilihan Umum Tahun 2024

Abstract

This research explores the political role of the Riau Malay Customary Institution (LAMR) in the 2024 General Election in Riau Province, as well as the challenges it faced in carrying out that role. The study is grounded in the significance of customary institutions in shaping local political dynamics, particularly in the context of ethnic identity-based political participation. The main research questions are: what forms does LAMR’s political role take in the 2024 election, and what obstacles does the institution encounter in fulfilling that role. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method with a field research approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and analyzed qualitatively using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing techniques. The informants include key figures from LAMR, such as the Chairman of the Daily Executive Board and the General Secretary, who hold strategic roles in decision-making and implementation. The findings show that LAMR carried out symbolic, normative, and participatory roles while maintaining political neutrality during the 2024 election. LAMR actively issued moral guidance and formal advisories to the public, promoting order, upholding cultural values, and rejecting money politics and hate speech. However, in practice, LAMR faced several challenges, such as political pressure from elites, internal role conflicts, and tensions between procedural democracy and customary norms. The study concludes that LAMR holds a strategic role as a guardian of cultural and political ethics but requires institutional strengthening to function more effectively within a democratic political framework.