Greater electoral chance sought for new leaders in 2004<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's restrictive political system should be changed to
\nallow new figures from outside the circle of the disappointing
\npolitical elite to rise to power, in a bid to cope with the
\nnation's leadership crisis, analysts say.<\/p>\n
They also called on the media to play a role in helping the
\ncrisis-battered country produce potential leaders by giving them
\nadequate publicity in order to increase their popularity with the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
As long-term measures to produce and prepare future leaders
\neligible to govern the country, \"leadership breeding grounds\"
\nneed to be created among community groups, they said.<\/p>\n
Sociopolitical observer Fachry Ali said the electoral bill,
\ncurrently being deliberated in the House of Representatives,
\nshould be revised to allow independent and nonpartisan candidates
\nto contest the direct presidential election scheduled for 2004.<\/p>\n
The draft law banned any individuals from nominating
\nthemselves for the next presidency but instead authorized
\nuntrustworthy political parties to have the final say in the
\nselection of presidential candidates.<\/p>\n
Critics say the bill will ensure that the next president would
\nlikely come from within the current circle of power holders
\ndespite rising criticism that they had ignored the public
\ninterest.<\/p>\n
\"To review the bill, the media's role is badly needed to put
\npressure on the government and the House to heed public
\naspirations,\" Fachry said.<\/p>\n
He said the exclusion of independent candidates from the
\npresidential election was irrelevant in a democratic country such
\nas Indonesia after four years of the reform era.<\/p>\n
\"The nomination of independent candidates is possible in the
\nU.S. and other western countries,\" added Fachry, director of the
\nInstitute for Business Ethics Development and Studies (LSPEU)
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Many have claimed Indonesia was facing a prolonged leadership
\ncrisis despite the first-ever direct presidential election in
\n2004, raising fears that the nation's prospects of securing a
\nbetter future will remain gloomy.<\/p>\n
Two recent surveys -- one carried out by the Center for
\nPolitical Studies (CPS) and another by the Institute for Social
\nand Economic Research, Education and Information (LP3ES) --
\nshowed that Indonesians could not identify any figure eligible to
\nlead the country after the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
Based on the findings, most people considered President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz, People's
\nConsultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and the House of
\nRepresentatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung as being unfit to retain
\npower.<\/p>\n
Fachry and noted sociologist Imam Prasodjo said the surveys
\nindicated that the people were \"longing for\" qualified leaders
\nfrom outside the circle of the political elite.<\/p>\n
Prasodjo said that to tackle this problem, a \"collective
\nleadership\" comprising national figures from various
\nsociopolitical organizations should be promoted.<\/p>\n
\"We also need to revive or empower leadership-producing
\nmachines to prepare qualified leaders for the future. Currently
\nthe machines are impeded by the domination of the bureaucracy and
\nthe disorder of the political system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fachry concurred with Prasodjo, saying that groups of
\ncommunities should be encouraged to identify new credible leaders
\nto take over the top state positions in 2004.<\/p>\n
However, Fachry said the political reality would still
\ndetermine that most Indonesians would choose their president on
\nthe basis of charisma.<\/p>\n
Prasodjo said Indonesia needed no future leaders elected for
\ntheir charisma or traditional roots. \"What we seek is a genuine
\nleader capable of inspiring the movement to resolve the problems.
\nHe or she should not be part of the problem, nor contaminated by
\nthe New Order regime.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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