Legislators admit to having ignored their constituents<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A number of legislators admitted on Tuesday that they had largely
\nignored their constituents, but shifted the blame for this
\nneglect to Indonesia's electoral system.<\/p>\n
The deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)
\nfaction in the House of Representatives, Chozin Chumaidy, said
\nthe severe lack of communication between legislators and their
\nconstituents was a direct result of the country's proportional
\nelectoral system.<\/p>\n
\"We have adopted a proportional system, which requires voters
\nto choose the symbols of political parties (when voting),\" Chozin
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
A legislator from President Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), J.E.
\nSahetapy, echoed Chozin, saying the distance between the people
\nand their representatives in the legislature was the result of
\nthe country's electoral system.<\/p>\n
Chozin called for the adoption of a combination of a
\nproportional and district electoral system, which would enable
\nvoters to choose their representatives.<\/p>\n
Under the proportional system, people vote for political
\nparties, which choose their representatives in the legislature.
\nWith a district electoral system, people would vote for
\nindividuals, compelling candidates to go out and meet and greet
\nthe people.<\/p>\n
A survey conducted by the International Foundation for
\nElection Systems Indonesia showed the majority of Indonesians
\ncould not identify their representatives in the legislature.<\/p>\n
Of the 3,580 people surveyed nationwide, only 4 percent were
\nable to name their representatives in the legislative body.<\/p>\n
\"I am surprised by the results of the survey; perhaps we have
\nto encourage more meetings with our constituents,\" Chozin said.<\/p>\n
Sahetapy, however, rejected suggestions that political parties
\nwere exploiting the public to further their own narrow interests.<\/p>\n
The executive director of the Center for Electoral Reform,
\nSmita Notosusanto, disputed claims that the proportional
\nelectoral system was to blame for legislators ignoring their
\nconstituents.<\/p>\n
\"It all depends on the political will of legislators. They
\ncould open an office to hold meetings with their constituents if
\nthey wished,\" Smita told the Post.<\/p>\n
Ferry Mursyidan Baldan of Golkar acknowledged that there was a
\nlack of communication between legislators and constituents.<\/p>\n
But Ferry also disagreed that the situation was the result of
\nthe proportional electoral system, which the nation has employed
\nfor years.<\/p>\n
\"Don't place the blame on the system. This is simply because
\nof a lack of responsibility on the part of legislators,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ferry, who is the deputy chairman of House Commission II for
\nhome and legal affairs, said many legislators slighted their
\nconstituents, but claimed that this did not represent the
\nmajority of legislators.<\/p>\n
He also said House members had the time to meet with their
\nconstituents and discuss their problems and wishes.<\/p>\n
The current schedule for the House gives legislators four
\nmonths off each year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-admit-to-having-ignored-their-constituents-1447893297",
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