Anybody can become a politician

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!