Businesspeople seek to set up networks with Susilo
Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Where there is sugar, there are ants, says an Indonesian proverb. And while it is still too early to determine the prospects of the Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat) and its cofounder Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono due to the sluggish pace of ballot counting, many people are now heading for the sugar.
The ants? There are many -- from ambitious politicians to rent-seeking businesspeople.
The party and SBY, as he is also known here, have been slowly, yet surely, climbing up to gain entry to the elite political circle. Some even say that Susilo is already well-placed to challenge more established politicians in the July 5 direct presidential election.
Only time will tell whether or not the predictions are accurate.
But for Indonesians -- where corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) have become a national culture -- the sugar and ant trend is an old pattern. People, including businessmen, are trying to set up networks with Susilo and his party as an anticipatory move, which could turn into personal gain if he wins the presidency.
"I know personally that some colleges have been eager to meet SBY ever since the (ballot) counting began," said a businessman who declined to be identified.
"I don't know for what purpose, but it's fair to say that they are looking to build relationships with him. I mean who knows, it may be handy if SBY really becomes president," said the businessman, who is also an executive in the country's electronic association.
He was quick to add, however, that such a trend was also common elsewhere in the world, where interest groups would strengthen their lobbying capacity with future policy makers.
Indeed, due to its powerful lobbying capacity, the interests of the business community would be a key element leaders the world over would taken into account in determining policy.
Indonesia should be no exception.
"But one should not jump to conclusions that building such a relationship is always a bad thing. As long as it does not violate the law, I do not see anything wrong with that," another businessman, who owns a shoe factory here, said.
"Maybe it's because they see SBY as a figure who can maintain stability and security here."
The business community has often complained that it was much easier to do business in Soeharto's era. Having good relations Soeharto's children or cronies, would be all that was needed to solve most of the problems. But now as the president is no longer the only center of power, businessmen also have to have good relations with other power holders.