Communication first, democracy later: Sarwono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Talk of democracy is useless as long as
\nmisunderstandings, caused by poor political communication,
\ncontinue to exist in Indonesia, a senior official says.<\/p>\n
\"Democracy? Let's not talk about it. We should first improve
\npolitical communication,\" State Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"What's the use of talking about democracy before the question
\nof poor political communication is resolved? That would be
\ntantamount to deceiving the public.\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono, Golkar's former political strategist and secretary-
\ngeneral from 1983 to 1988, was addressing a seminar to review the
\npolitical situation in Indonesia after 50 years of independence.<\/p>\n
\"We are facing an increasingly complicated social order which
\nneeds to be managed through (good) communication,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Among those interrelated critical problems and challenges,
\nSarwono said, are poor political communication, the need to
\n\"upgrade\" the nation socially and politically, and the need for
\nleaders to secure \"moral legitimacy\" from the people.<\/p>\n
Indonesia could face the same fate as a number of neighboring
\ncountries, many of which experienced setbacks because similar
\nproblems were left unresolved, he said.<\/p>\n
While some are discussing the need to limit presidential
\nterms, Sarwono said a more pressing problem is how leaders can
\nsecure \"moral legitimacy\".<\/p>\n
As an example of poor communication, he cited the unexplained
\ntermination of a popular talk show Perspektif on SCTV, a private
\ntelevision station.<\/p>\n
\"We know more or less that something was not right behind that
\ntermination, but the only explanation available was that the show
\nwas being reviewed,\" he said. \"This is demoralizing for the
\npublic. People are forced to just accept nonsensical
\nexplanations.\"<\/p>\n
According to Sarwono, the nation is changing its notion of
\nleadership. Indonesia now needs leaders of \"moral legitimacy\",
\nwhich they can only earn from the people.<\/p>\n
Previous leaders were granted this legitimacy because of their
\nroles in the struggle for independence and because they survived
\ngenerations of leaders before them.<\/p>\n
\"They had the moral legitimacy which made us respect them and
\ntheir willingness to work hard in accordance with their beliefs,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"But now we need different parameters,\" he said. \"We can't
\njust (lead the people) unless we have something in us that makes
\nthe public want to.\"<\/p>\n
While the past generation might see material wealth as a
\nmeasure of success, now people are demanding another form of
\nsuccess which is more qualitative in nature.<\/p>\n
\"Now people talk about the right to express themselves, to
\nhave their basic rights stipulated in the laws and met,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The problem is a critical one, he said. \"We can learn from
\nother Southeast Asian countries who experienced setbacks and had
\nto start from scratch because they had leaders who were not
\ncompatible with the countries' missions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"They needed leaders who could advance their countries,\" he
\nsaid, adding that moral legitimacy is not always linked to the
\nquestion of how long an official is in power.<\/p>\n
Malaysia and Singapore advanced significantly during the long
\nperiods of leadership under Prime Minister Mahathir and Prime
\nMinister Lee Kuan Yew, he said.<\/p>\n
\"If the country wants to advance, don't talk about who's going
\nto be the (next) president. Why should we think about it? Let's
\njust pray that whoever is elected will have the moral legitimacy
\nof the people...What's important is for us to first improve
\npolitical communication,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"And in what direction is the political dialog aimed? To raise
\nthe awareness of the people that we need a civil society,\" he
\nsaid. \"Without it, we can't clear the path toward the future
\nexcept with power.\"<\/p>\n
The discussion was held by the Department of Political and
\nRegional Studies of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
\nIt was preceded by the launching of a book entitled Menelaah
\nKembali Format Politik Orde Baru (Review of New Order's Political
\nFormat). The book is a compilation of articles presented at a
\nLIPI seminar on the same theme last year.<\/p>\n
Department head Mochtar Pabottingi said the two-day discussion
\nwas meant to \"review whether we are still loyal to the ideals of
\nthe establishment of the republic, or whether we have gone
\nastray\". (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/communication-first-democracy-later-sarwono-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}