Anybody can become a politician
Kornelius Purba Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Jakarta purba@thejakartapost.com
A legislature candidate from a new and small party was hardly bothered by the small number of votes his party received in the April 5 legislative election. He said he had already anticipated that before joining the party. He sold his only car to finance his campaign, and displayed his picture along the streets near his residence in East Jakarta. He was only ranked fourth candidate for Jakarta.
"Whatever the result is, history has recorded me as a politician. When I die, before my burial, an eulogy will be read out, which will mention my political career. It does not matter if relatives who do not like me add to it the words failed politician-to-be," the architect joked.
Another candidate is on the top list of the Democratic Party in a province in Java. When the party was first established, the small-scale businessman became an endless source of laughter among friends. He always wore a tie, talked as a professional politician and distributed his name card to almost everyone he met.
However, people have now stopped laughing at him (at least for the moment). The party showed a surprising result and its co- founder, Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, at least for the time being, is tipped as strong presidential candidate.
The legislative election does not only give ample opportunity to set up a political party because the requirement are relatively minimal, but there is also the same freedom for individuals who want to pursue a career as a legislator either at national, regional, regental/municipal levels.
By collecting the signatures and ID card photocopies of about 4,000 people, anyone can pursue a career as a member of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD). Each of the country's 32 provinces are represented by four councillors.
Of course it is costly, but again, if they are on list of candidates, the state is obliged to publish their names and pictures. They become instant celebrities. To convince the public, many candidates forged university diplomas, for which several candidates have been jailed. If they are lucky they will become real politicians, and if they fail, at least people who attend their funeral will have to listen to the disclosure of their careers.
The political campaigns by the 24 parties last month showed that people did not care much about their political platforms. The campaigners were free to make promises, from free education, free medical facilities, to skyrocketing wages for citizens. And most interestingly, people know the campaigners are "morally" obliged to lie to them by giving empty promises.
It is good that the campaigners or the politicians-to-be fully realize that their prospective voters never trust what comes out of their mouths. They spent only a few minutes making inflated promises, and presented erotic dangdut singers to satisfy the lewd needs of the audience.
Election observers, non-governmental organization activists, university students and bold university professors in chorus condemned the vote-buying techniques used to lure voters. Political parties claimed they only distributed instant noodles (which probably they bought at discount from the manufacturers) for humanitarian reasons. What is wrong with giving a bit of money as a token of appreciation to voters?
Nearly all leaders of the political parties, from the Muslim- based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to the National Mandate Party (PAN) told their supporters that it was OK to receive money from their rivals as long as the supporters still voted for them.
People know the politicians' first -- if not only -- priority is to enrich themselves. Is it so sinful for the common people to enrich themselves a little during elections? This time, there was ample opportunity for them to receive free instant noodles and money -- sometimes they were given fake money -- from political parties and from presidential candidates before the July 5 direct presidential election.
But do not underestimate the people. Some educated people -- who think they are smarter and wiser than the average person -- claimed that most ordinary Indonesians are not ready to accept democracy. In 1999, ordinary Indonesians proved their political maturity by conducting a very peaceful election.
They proved it again this year. The political campaigns and voting proceeded very smoothly. They accepted money from political parties, but that does not mean their conscience was traded at the same time.
Some leaders of new political parties claimed that thousands of well-wishers accepted them during their campaigns in the provinces. These politicians nearly cried when revealing how becak drivers refused payment for their services. Seeing the small number of votes they won, they apparently realized they had come to the wrong conclusion about the welcome they received during their visits.
They failed to understand the people. People who attended their campaigns also joined other political parties' rallies.
Democracy gives a chance for everyone to become instant politicians. Even if you fail now, remember the possibility of the honor you will receive at your funeral!