Election system already proportional: Hartono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the infancy of the Indonesian Institute
\nof Sciences' study of possible electoral reforms, an Armed Forces
\nofficial expressed his confidence in the existing system.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono said the proportional
\nrepresentation system of general elections, which has been used
\nduring the last five elections, is adequate and not in need of
\nchange.<\/p>\n
\"The system..is already 'proportional', it doesn't have to be
\nreplaced. However, it's the implementation (of the system) that
\nshould be improved,\" Hartono told reporters in Bandung after
\nopening a course at the army staff and command college (Seskoad)
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
He explained that experts at the college which are
\nparticipating in the government's campaign to review the election
\nsystem have so far reached a consensus that no changes are
\nneeded.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the temporary results of the study, Seskoad...agreed
\nthat the system doesn't need to be changed, only the
\nimplementation needs to be examined,\" he was quoted by the Antara
\nnews agency as saying.<\/p>\n
However, he acknowledged that the Seskoad study is not
\nfinished. \"The study is still halfway...The process will be long,
\nwe still need more suggestions from experts.\"<\/p>\n
While conducting its own study, Seskoad has been receiving and
\nprocessing inputs from experts as well as forwarding them to
\nLIPI.<\/p>\n
Shortly after President Soeharto instructed LIPI in February
\nto examine the electoral system and replace it with an
\nalternative system if necessary, the ruling Golkar party
\nimmediately stated it was ready for changes.<\/p>\n
The two smaller election contestants, the United Development
\nParty (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), are more
\ncautious, however, stating a preference for the current system
\nwith tighter supervision and fairness in its implementation.<\/p>\n
Golkar has won each of the last five general elections.
\nAnalysts believe that if the alternative first-past-the-post
\nsystem is applied, the PDI and PPP will most likely are do worse
\nat election time.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, commander of the Seskoad college, Maj. Gen. Arifin
\nSiregar, acknowledged that there are shortcomings in the
\nimplementation of the current system of general elections.<\/p>\n
He refused to name them, however, saying \"because of the poor
\nresults, many parties are dissatisfied.\"<\/p>\n
\"Those people are of the opinion that the solution is to
\nchange the system,\" he said, adding that he disagreed with the
\nopinion.<\/p>\n
\"It's not yet certain that the system is not good,\" he said,
\n\"but this is why Seskoad is currently examining the system.\"<\/p>\n
The widely-proposed alternative system, he said, also has
\nshortcomings. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/election-system-already-proportional-hartono-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}