Analyst warns of more money politics as election nears
Analyst warns of more money politics as election nears
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta
Vote buying is likely to intensify in the presidential election
run-off scheduled for Sept. 20 as there will be nothing left to
offer to attract support, a political analyst has warned.
Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia (UI) said all five
of the presidential candidates might have promised positions or
money in exchange for support in the July 5 poll.
"Since the positions will have all been traded before the July
5 poll, the candidates that contest the run-off will offer
money," Arbi told a discussion here on Friday.
He said, however, the practice would only hamper the country's
attempts to achieve genuine democracy.
Arbi said he believed positions in the Cabinet and the
bureaucracy had been traded among leaders of political parties as
part of their deal to forge a coalition, while money had been
given to the public in return for votes.
During the presidential election campaign, some people
acknowledged they attended a rally for money.
Fellow analyst Syamsuddin Haris from the Indonesian Institute
of Sciences (LIPI) said, meanwhile, the presidential campaign,
which had been going on for three weeks, was no different to the
legislative campaign in March.
According to Syamsuddin, the presidential candidates offered
only promises without explaining how to achieve them.
The five candidates to contest the poll are Wiranto of the
Golkar Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Amien Rais of the National Mandate
Party (PAN), Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of the Democratic Party and
Hamzah Haz of the United Development Party (PPP).
At different rallies the presidential candidates have made
similar promises, Syamsuddin said.
"There have been many promises during the campaign, but no one
has managed to explain how to make their words come true,"
Syamsuddin said.
Taking an example, Syamsuddin said all presidential candidates
boasted they would fight corruption.
The candidates, however, did not elaborate measures to
eradicate the crime.
Syamsuddin said the eradication of corruption would simply
remain a promise if the elected president were reluctant to
reshuffle the National Police, the Attorney General's Office and
the judiciary.
"They all protect big corrupters," he said.
Arbi added the next president would have to solve the problems
the nation was currently facing, otherwise people would cease to
support him or her.
He claimed that none of the five presidential candidates had
the capability, integrity or competence to lead the nation out of
the multidimensional crisis.
"One could say 'I will not exercise my right to vote because I
do not trust them.' Politics is a matter of trust," he said.
Despite his reservations, Syamsuddin said he would exercise
his constitutional right to show his responsibility as a citizen.
"I shall vote for the candidate who has the fewest
weaknesses," he said.