PPP and PDI cautious on changing election system<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar says it is ready for changes in the
\nelectoral system away from the current system of proportional
\nrepresentation, as hinted at by President Soeharto, but the two
\nminority parties are more cautious about the issue.<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Harmoko told reporters yesterday in Samarinda,
\nEast Kalimantan, that his group, which has won each of the last
\nfive general elections, was prepared for any system.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nIndonesian Democratic party (PDI) said separately that, while
\nthey welcomed a change in the electoral system, it was more
\nimportant for the nation that the electoral laws and regulations
\nbe upheld.<\/p>\n
Soeharto asked the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) on
\nTuesday to conduct a study on the best election system for the
\nnation, with the possibility of dropping the current system of
\nproportional representation in favor of a first-past-the-post
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
LIPI was also asked to look into the mechanism for the
\nappointment of Armed Forces officers to the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
Under the current system, 400 of the 500 seats in the DPR are
\ndivided between Golkar, the PPP and the PDI in accordance with
\ntheir share of the votes. The other 100 seats are reserved for
\nrepresentatives of the Armed Forces, whose members do not vote.<\/p>\n
Under a first-past-the-post system, each seat in the House
\nwould have to be contested in every district, with voters
\nelecting their representatives rather than the political parties.<\/p>\n
Political commentators have agreed that a district-based
\nsystem would give Golkar an even greater advantage over the other
\ntwo parties.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who was on a lengthy Ramadhan Safari tour of
\nKalimantan, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that
\nGolkar had once, already, proposed the adoption of a district-
\nbased system, but that the other two political parties rejected
\nthe proposal.<\/p>\n
He said Golkar had conducted its own study about the district-
\nbased system and was confident about its chances in a general
\nelection using that system.<\/p>\n
PDI chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri told reporters after
\nbreaking the fast at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta
\nyesterday evening that any attempt to improve the political and
\nelectoral system must be welcomed.<\/p>\n
But she said it was not the system that should be replaced.<\/p>\n
Adherence<\/p>\n
PDI was more concerned about the adherence to the regulations
\nduring elections, she said. \"What's important is that the
\npolitical parties be included in the planning and implementation
\nof the elections.\"<\/p>\n
Tosari Wijaya, secretary general of the United Development
\nParty (PPP), who attended the same dinner, concurred with
\nMegawati that the political parties should be given greater
\ncontrol over the way elections are administered.<\/p>\n
The PPP and PDI have complained that the present electoral
\nrules greatly favor Golkar. They have alleged that various
\nviolations of the electoral rules by Golkar during past elections
\nhave gone unpunished.<\/p>\n
The two minority parties have also been calling for a
\nrevamping of the electoral system. But, judging from their
\nreactions to the latest proposal, the last thing they want is a
\nmove away from the proportional representation system.<\/p>\n
Former PDI chairman Soerjadi said the fact that Soeharto had
\ncommissioned LIPI to conduct the study was an encouraging sign.
\n\"But it would be more important to safeguard the implementation
\nof a system and ensure its fairness to all election contestants.\"<\/p>\n
\"Actually, any system is good,\" Soerjadi told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"We can change the system, but it will mean nothing if its
\nimplementation is not supported by morality and ethics,\" the
\nformer PDI chief said.<\/p>\n
\"What we need to do is to improve the spirit, the conduct, the
\ncommitment and the implementation of the electoral system of our
\nchoice, whichever it is,\" Soerjadi said.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is that we create a sense of
\nsecurity among people, so that they are not afraid to vote for
\nthe political party of their choice,\" he said. \"We have to admit
\nthat at present there are people who have been pressured and
\nhaven't felt free to vote...this is unjust.\"<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said he hoped LIPI would be able to carry out its
\ntask objectively. \"It shouldn't work as a tailor who is
\ninstructed to make something only for the interests of one
\nparty,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abu Hartono of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction praised
\nSoeharto for the move, saying it reflected the President's wisdom
\nand sensitivity towards the nation's democratization process.<\/p>\n
Abu said his faction had no inclination to any particular
\nsystem, as long as it fitted the nation's needs.<\/p>\n
He said that the real question for ABRI was not whether its
\nrole in social and political life was justifiable, because the
\nlaws and decisions of the People's Consultative Assembly
\nrecognized ABRI's \"dual function\". (swe\/29)<\/p>",
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