A look ahead to next elections

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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