[b]Election candidates

Election candidates should be tested

From Kompas

Top management of banks and state-owned enterprises, as well as officials at some state institutions now undergo a test of their suitability.

If this test had been conducted much earlier, many of the banks in this country would not have gone bankrupt due to poor management. The same goes for state-owned enterprises and some state institutions. They would not have had to sustain losses or suffer misuse of funds.

In this context, I believe candidates for the presidential election in 2004 should also undergo a test. They should be assessed against the criteria set by their own political parties and also pass this test before they are deemed eligible to take part in the presidential race.

Relevant institutions, such as the General Elections Commissions, the House of Representatives or the People's Consultative Assembly, should work together to establish the criteria for this test. Most important of all, a presidential candidate should be mentally and physically fit.

MUHAIL Jakarta