A look ahead to next elections

There has been a rebirth of interest in political life. Based on SK Mendagri/Ketua LPU No.3 Th. 1999, there will be 48 parties contesting the next general election. Many observers have said hopefully that the next multiparty general election will be the first time a party machinery has not predetermined the outcome. Is this a real turning point in our national political history, moving toward mature democracy by overcoming regional prejudices? It is not easy to answer. We have become very anxious as the current political and psychological atmosphere are still unfriendly. Clearly, from the calculus of national politics, we think that a snake with seven or more heads never goes into its pit. And so we need unity.

What is needed particularly at the present time is a more open-minded and tolerant attitude since we have more immediate problems to confront, i.e. unemployment, inflation and the deficit.

It is nice to think about all the things we hope to do or wish we could do, but we are in an era when people do not want promises to be high-flown and unrealistic. So it's better to start figuring out what we are going to do on the basis of a commitment to a better life for our people, and a better civilization. But we cannot have a good civilization without a good economy. Trying to put the economy on a much better footing is a must. Pushing the economy ahead in a way that is workable and fair and equitable where the people are concerned. In order to have a good economy, we should have political assurance.

An important and relevant issue is that a peaceful general election is always a referendum on the economy. A general election which conforms to the highest professional standards of integrity and honesty, not trapped in a narrow framework (misreading the public aspirations) and presenting the country with a new vision. These are some things worthy of being taken care of by the contesting parties.

ASROFI

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