Beware of the 'antek' of the New Order

Beware of the 'antek' of the New Order

The Indonesian dictionary defines the word antek as a person
(or nation) that is exploited or made a follower, lackey or slave
by others.

Perhaps R. Hartono, chairman of the Concern for the Nation
Functional Party (PKPB), explained the meaning of antek to his
followers.

Hartono, in a recent campaign in Yogyakarta, invited party
supporters and sympathizers to become antek of former president
Soeharto, who ruled the country for 32 years. Hartono must have
used the term antek to mean Soeharto's followers.

The press reported on Monday that PKPB had given money to
people who attended the campaign in East Java's provincial
capital, Surabaya. This is humiliating. That was how the New
Order won public support. It settled all issues with money. Thus,
corruption thrived during the New Order era.

Hartono's invitation for people to serve as antek of Soeharto
was ridiculous and dangerous, as it was an insult to the people's
dignity.

The General Elections Supervisory Committee should take
measures against PKPB or other election contestants that practice
money politics during their campaigns.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta