Candidate list draws criticism<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Criticism of the composition of the newly issued
\nlist of candidates for the 1997-2002 House of Representatives
\ncame in hard and fast yesterday.<\/p>\n
Outspoken Moslem scholar Amien Rais criticized the General
\nElection Institute for endorsing the provisional list of
\nlegislature candidates which was marked by the strong presence of
\nrelatives of senior civilian and military officials.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid that we'll then get a House of Representatives
\nwhich deviates from its function, namely giving voice to the
\npeople's aspirations, and becomes a mouthpiece for the
\ngovernment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Such a House won't be able to make decisions in the interests
\nof the nation, only in the interests of the officials'
\nrelatives,\" he said before addressing a seminar at Sari Pan
\nPacific Hotel here yesterday.<\/p>\n
The list reflected that meritocracy -- a system of value that
\nrespects skills, capability and experience -- did not have a
\nplace in this society, said Amien, chairman of the 28 million-
\nstrong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization.<\/p>\n
The list of candidates for the House of Representatives,
\nespecially the one drawn up by the ruling political grouping
\nGolkar, was generously sprinkled with the names of the offspring
\nand wives of high ranking government and military officials, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
There were, for instance, the wives of Minister of Information
\nHarmoko, Armed Forces chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Home
\nAffairs Moch. Yogie S.M. and Armed Forces chief of Sociopolitical
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid. Also listed were four of
\nPresident Soeharto's children and one of his daughters-in-law, as
\nwell as a son of Vice President Try Sutrisno.<\/p>\n
A political analyst from the National Institute of Sciences
\nIndria Samego said the list failed to represent the people of the
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
\"The candidates' commitment to development outside Java will
\nsurely be poor as almost 60 percent of the candidates likely to
\nget the legislative jobs live in Jakarta,\" he said as quoted by
\nAntara.<\/p>\n
Kwik Kian Gie, deputy chairman of the executive board of
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) ex-chairwoman Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, said he doubted the credibility of the list
\nbecause it accommodated only candidates chosen by Soerjadi, who
\nousted Megawati.<\/p>\n
None of the 744 PDI candidates approved by the election
\ninstitute were Megawati supporters.<\/p>\n
Kwik also criticized the election institute because it ignored
\nthe ongoing legal battle Megawati and her supporters have been
\nwaging in the courts against her rival.<\/p>\n
Pending the Supreme Court's decision on Megawati's lawsuit
\nagainst those who ousted her in a rebel party congress in June
\nlast year, Megawati was still the lawful leader of the party,
\nKwik said.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the only legitimate candidates were those selected
\nby Megawati,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The election institute rejected Megawati's list of candidates
\nlast September.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary-general of the General Election Institute
\nWalujo confirmed yesterday that Megawati's supporters could lodge
\ncomplaints about the list.<\/p>\n
Origins<\/p>\n
Separately, political observer Rudini suggested that people
\nshould not bother about where the candidates came from. \"The most
\nimportant thing is for the people to be able to see how the
\ncandidates would later represent them,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"A representative must have the courage to say 'no' to
\npolicies which run counter to public interest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rudini, former minister of home affairs, made a fresh call for
\na new election system, from the current proportional
\nrepresentation system to a district system in which candidates
\nwould only represent their hometown.<\/p>\n
\"With the new system, local people would at least know their
\ncandidates. And, the candidates would know very well the
\nprovinces they represent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the National Screening Committee
\nSutoyo N.K. urged the public not to hesitate lodging complaints
\nto the General Election Institute about any of the candidates.<\/p>\n
\"We will forward their complaints to the relevant
\ninstitutions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, complaints should be supported by facts, he said, so
\nthat corrective measures could be taken. Justified complaints may
\nresult in the dismissal of candidates. (imn)<\/p>",
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