Wanted: Pro-people parties
With the general election now three years off, the political climate is heating up every day as politicians begin jockeying for positions, heightening the rivalry. At least three new political parties have registered with the Law and Human Rights Ministry to try their luck in the 2014 elections.
These three are the National Republican Party, the Nasdem Party and the Indonesian Sovereignty Party (PKB Indonesia). Many more are expected to register for screening in the coming year, making the best of Indonesia’s burgeoning democracy.
The question is how serious are they about their participation in the 2014 elections? And how big are their chances at winning, or at least securing seats at the House of Representatives?
The National Republican Party, founded by Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra, the youngest son of the late dictator Soeharto, has taken the public by storm because most people never realized he was planning to form a political party. Tommy was a onetime Golkar functionary, but Golkar moved away from the Soeharto shadow to shed its image of being a legacy of the New Order regime, and to win support from reform-minded voters.
Nasdem is meant to be a political wing of National Democrats, a “social movement” organization led by media tycoon-cum-politician Surya Paloh and the revered Sultan Hemengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta. Nasdem has got dirty looks from such major political parties as Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which lost their seasoned politicians to the new organization.
PKB Indonesia is a splinter from the National Awakening Party (PKB) founded by the late charismatic Muslim cleric and former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid. Led by his daughter, Yenny Wahid, PKB Indonesia is tipped to steal the show in the 2014 elections thanks to Gus Dur’s charisma, which charmed millions supportive of his unwavering defense of pluralism at the heels of the growing Islamic extremism.
But the struggle to win coveted seats at the House will be extremely tough for any newcomers because the existing political parties have raised the bar so high that it will take formidable resources to attract would-be voters.
Complicating the situation further is the falling public trust in political parties, widely perceived as among the most corrupt institutions along with the House of Representatives, police and the judiciary. The new parties will have to offer more and better programs than those offered by their established rivals.
In notoriously corrupt Indonesia, money reigns supreme in everyday life, and politics is no exception. There is nothing secret about the ways the (politically and financially) powerful use their money to buy everything from votes to loyalty and “justice”. Lately, Indonesia has been witnessing politicians exploiting religious issues such as Ahmadiyah and secessionist Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) movement for personal and political gain.
Keeping in mind that the increasingly well-informed public will only vote for parties that truly defend their interests, we hope that political parties, be they old or brand new, only strive for the interests of the people through democratic means.
These three are the National Republican Party, the Nasdem Party and the Indonesian Sovereignty Party (PKB Indonesia). Many more are expected to register for screening in the coming year, making the best of Indonesia’s burgeoning democracy.
The question is how serious are they about their participation in the 2014 elections? And how big are their chances at winning, or at least securing seats at the House of Representatives?
The National Republican Party, founded by Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra, the youngest son of the late dictator Soeharto, has taken the public by storm because most people never realized he was planning to form a political party. Tommy was a onetime Golkar functionary, but Golkar moved away from the Soeharto shadow to shed its image of being a legacy of the New Order regime, and to win support from reform-minded voters.
Nasdem is meant to be a political wing of National Democrats, a “social movement” organization led by media tycoon-cum-politician Surya Paloh and the revered Sultan Hemengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta. Nasdem has got dirty looks from such major political parties as Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which lost their seasoned politicians to the new organization.
PKB Indonesia is a splinter from the National Awakening Party (PKB) founded by the late charismatic Muslim cleric and former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid. Led by his daughter, Yenny Wahid, PKB Indonesia is tipped to steal the show in the 2014 elections thanks to Gus Dur’s charisma, which charmed millions supportive of his unwavering defense of pluralism at the heels of the growing Islamic extremism.
But the struggle to win coveted seats at the House will be extremely tough for any newcomers because the existing political parties have raised the bar so high that it will take formidable resources to attract would-be voters.
Complicating the situation further is the falling public trust in political parties, widely perceived as among the most corrupt institutions along with the House of Representatives, police and the judiciary. The new parties will have to offer more and better programs than those offered by their established rivals.
In notoriously corrupt Indonesia, money reigns supreme in everyday life, and politics is no exception. There is nothing secret about the ways the (politically and financially) powerful use their money to buy everything from votes to loyalty and “justice”. Lately, Indonesia has been witnessing politicians exploiting religious issues such as Ahmadiyah and secessionist Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) movement for personal and political gain.
Keeping in mind that the increasingly well-informed public will only vote for parties that truly defend their interests, we hope that political parties, be they old or brand new, only strive for the interests of the people through democratic means.
Singapore ‘democratic’ sling
When Singapore holds general elections this Saturday, it is not so much an exercise of democracy in the way it is understood by many in the West (or in Indonesia for that matter), but more an exercise of renewing the people’s mandate for the People’s Action Party (PAP).
Even with seven opposition parties, Singapore is a one-party state. PAP has not only won every single election held since 1965, it always did so with an unshakable large majority. In 2006, it came away with 82 of 84 seats.
This year, there are 87 seats at stake, but unlike the last time, there are no more walkover constituencies as the opposition parties have now combined to contest every single district. Watch how the 200,000 young people voting for the first time (about 8.7 percent of the total) cast their ballot papers. There may still be surprises, though do not hold your breath. Although the government is tolerating criticism from the opposition at their rallies or from the disgruntled public through online media, people still do go to jail in Singapore on charges of defamation against government officials.
So, the question to outsiders is why do you bother with the polls at all?
Those who follow Singapore politics agree that the elections provide Singaporeans with a greater degree of freedom in expressing their sentiments. The social media in one of the world’s most wired nations is filled with people griping about PAP shortcomings although expressed in restrained tones.
Elections are still useful for the PAP leadership to feel the pulse of the people. In Singapore’s style of democracy, two-way political communication takes place quite effectively, not only during the elections, but at regular town-hall meetings.
Even with the restrictions in place on free speech, the aspirations of the people still do go through the political channels to the top. Contrast this with new democracies, such as Indonesia, where political communication often breaks down in spite of free speech. Then again, managing a nation of 5 million people is not the same as one with 240 million.
In the end, most Singaporean voters will go with PAP, which is seen as being responsible for turning their country into one of the wealthiest in Asia. A nation that came up with the Singapore Sling cocktail drink is entitled to come up with its own version of democracy.
Even with seven opposition parties, Singapore is a one-party state. PAP has not only won every single election held since 1965, it always did so with an unshakable large majority. In 2006, it came away with 82 of 84 seats.
This year, there are 87 seats at stake, but unlike the last time, there are no more walkover constituencies as the opposition parties have now combined to contest every single district. Watch how the 200,000 young people voting for the first time (about 8.7 percent of the total) cast their ballot papers. There may still be surprises, though do not hold your breath. Although the government is tolerating criticism from the opposition at their rallies or from the disgruntled public through online media, people still do go to jail in Singapore on charges of defamation against government officials.
So, the question to outsiders is why do you bother with the polls at all?
Those who follow Singapore politics agree that the elections provide Singaporeans with a greater degree of freedom in expressing their sentiments. The social media in one of the world’s most wired nations is filled with people griping about PAP shortcomings although expressed in restrained tones.
Elections are still useful for the PAP leadership to feel the pulse of the people. In Singapore’s style of democracy, two-way political communication takes place quite effectively, not only during the elections, but at regular town-hall meetings.
Even with the restrictions in place on free speech, the aspirations of the people still do go through the political channels to the top. Contrast this with new democracies, such as Indonesia, where political communication often breaks down in spite of free speech. Then again, managing a nation of 5 million people is not the same as one with 240 million.
In the end, most Singaporean voters will go with PAP, which is seen as being responsible for turning their country into one of the wealthiest in Asia. A nation that came up with the Singapore Sling cocktail drink is entitled to come up with its own version of democracy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment