{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1423816,
        "msgid": "old-player-in-a-new-game-1447893297",
        "date": "1999-02-25 00:00:00",
        "title": "Old player in a new game",
        "author": null,
        "source": "",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Old player in a new game Amid the current clamor for change, our political parties -- Golkar in particular -- continue to follow their old political cultural habits. Thus, nominations of presidential candidates are supported by people at the top (of the party hierarchy). This old custom of recruiting leaders in a top-down process -- which we have been blaming for the hollowness of our democratic life for the past three decades -- is practiced with increasing regularity.",
        "content": "<p>Old player in a new game<\/p>\n<p>Amid the current clamor for change, our political parties --<br>\nGolkar in particular -- continue to follow their old political<br>\ncultural habits. Thus, nominations of presidential candidates are<br>\nsupported by people at the top (of the party hierarchy). This old<br>\ncustom of recruiting leaders in a top-down process -- which we<br>\nhave been blaming for the hollowness of our democratic life for<br>\nthe past three decades -- is practiced with increasing<br>\nregularity. The alternative of determining the will of the people<br>\nfrom the bottom up is ignored.<\/p>\n<p>While such mistakes are being increasingly regarded as proper,<br>\nthe refusal of Golkar's East Java chapter to bow to (Golkar<br>\nchairman) Akbar Tandjung's must be seen as a sensible act of<br>\ncorrection. Akbar has every right to support Habibie's<br>\npresidential candidacy, but in order for Habibie to obtain proper<br>\nlegitimacy the nomination must reflect the will of supporters at<br>\nthe grassroots level and move from there to the top.<\/p>\n<p>It would have been nice if Habibie's candidacy could have been<br>\nproposed by the party's regional chapters, and not forced on<br>\nlower party echelons by Jakarta. The way the Indonesian<br>\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) nominated Megawati<br>\nat its Bali congress some time ago could serve as an example.<\/p>\n<p>Another point that needs correcting is the party's insistence<br>\n-- as expressed repeatedly by Akbar Tandjung -- that a<br>\npresidential candidate must have experience in government. This<br>\nis an indirect hint from Akbar that a presidential candidate must<br>\nbe experienced as a president.<\/p>\n<p>Whether we like to admit it or not, the failure of our<br>\ndemocracy over the past 32 years springs from Golkar's reluctance<br>\nto abandon this \"top-down\" political culture. However, it is easy<br>\nto understand that Golkar -- the master of the old political<br>\nculture -- cannot be expected to be adept at following the new<br>\nrhythm of reform.<\/p>\n<p>-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/old-player-in-a-new-game-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}