Trust in high state institutions drops: Survey<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Public trust of high state institutions -- particularly the
\npresidential office and the People's Consultative Assembly -- has
\ndropped significantly in 2003, a survey says.<\/p>\n
The survey, organized by the International Foundation for
\nElection Systems (IFES), showed that people's trust in the
\npresidential office had dropped from 52 percent in 2002 to 37
\npercent in 2003.<\/p>\n
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with
\n3,000 respondents in 32 provinces across the country from June 1
\nthrough July 5.<\/p>\n
The people's confidence in the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) also went down from 48 percent in 2002 to 38 percent in
\n2003, and surprisingly the public's trust in the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) rose slightly from 32 percent in 2002 to
\nstill a very poor 34 percent in 2003.<\/p>\n
Only 35 percent of respondents still had faith in the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office (AGO), 36 percent in the Supreme Court, and 42
\npercent in the National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM).<\/p>\n
According to the survey, the high level of dissatisfaction
\nwith presidential office was attributed to poor performance of
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri in implementing promised
\nreforms. In the survey, people were also not satisfied with the
\nDPR despite the slight rise, particularly in its function in
\ncontrolling the government and drafting the state budget.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, however, the people at large remain
\nenthusiastic to cast their votes in 2004, when the country is
\nscheduled to hold its first ever direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
According to Valina Singka Subekti, a member of the General
\nElections Commissions (KPU), the peculiar trend was attributed to
\nthe change in the election, which makes the 2004 general
\nelections much more democratic and accountable than previous
\npolls.<\/p>\n
"This has been a powerful attraction for the people,
\nencouraging them to cast votes in the next elections," Valina
\ntold The Jakarta Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The new election law allows the people to vote directly for
\ntheir favorite president and vice president ticket. It also rules
\nthat people can directly vote for their representatives in the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR), provincial and regental
\nlegislature members. In previous elections, people could only
\nvote for political parties.<\/p>\n
Valina also said that Indonesia's political history had
\ntraditionally had high voter turnout in every election.<\/p>\n
In the first general election in 1955, voter turnout was 88
\npercent, while during the Order Era, voter turnout was always
\nmore than 90 percent. Even in 1999, the first democratic election
\nafter the downfall of former president Soeharto, voter turnout
\nwas still above 90 percent.<\/p>\n
The high level of voter interest will apparently continue in
\nthe 2004 elections, as the IFES survey found that 70 percent of
\nrespondents in the survey expressed a likelihood of voting and a
\nfurther 23 percent said it was probable that they would vote.<\/p>\n
Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction level<\/p>\n
Satisfaction Dissatisfaction<\/p>\n
1. KOMNAS HAM : 42% 1. Presidency : 55%
\n2. MPR : 38% 2. DPR : 54%
\n3. Presidency : 37% 3. MPR : 51%
\n4. Supreme Court: 36% 4. AGO : 51%
\n5. AGO : 35% 5. Supreme Court: 49%
\n6. DPR : 34% 6. KOMNAS HAM : 45%
\n========================================================
\nSource: IFES, 2003<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trust-in-high-state-institutions-drops-survey-1447893297",
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