'Can entertainers make good legislators?'

'Can entertainers make good legislators?'

As the deadline on Jan. 19 approaches, some 24 political parties
have been struggling to meet the 30-percent quota for women
candidates in the general election on April 5. Even those that
have managed to meet the quota as recommended by the Elections
Law have given their women candidates a low priority by placing
them at the bottom of their lists. The Jakarta Post talked to
some city residents on the issue.

Uli, 30, works as a manager for a company. She lives with her
parents in Kota, West Jakarta:

I'm pessimistic that the 30 percent quota for women
legislators will be achieved because there aren't many
intelligent women who can do the job. Even if the quota is
fulfilled, I'd still question their capabilities.

It's possible that parties will just pick any woman who comes
along solely to meet the quota. Look at the way parties are
trying to garner support by using female entertainers as their
candidates. I'm not saying that entertainers are not capable. I'm
just asking whether they are really capable of being legislators?

Whatever happens, there won't be any significant changes as
regards the development of women's rights in the country.

Indy, 40, is a supervisor with a publishing company. She lives
in Petamburan, Central Jakarta:

The quota will be fulfilled in numerical terms but there won't
be many capable women elected as the parties are only interested
in meeting the quota.

I feel very pessimistic that the female legislative candidates
will bring about changes regarding the rights and advancement of
women in the country. What do you expect from unqualified and
incapable legislators?

Kwee Tjin Tjai, 30, is a human resources department manager
with a paper manufacturer in Grogol, West Jakarta. He lives with
his wife and baby boy in Cikokol, Tangerang:

My personal opinion is that the quota for women candidates
should be 40 percent instead of 30 percent. That would be fair
and square.

Even with a 30 percent quota, I am pessimistic that the
parties will be able to comply with the recommendation in the
general election as our society is still too patriarchal. They
are not ready to accept women as leaders.

The election of Megawati Soekarnoputri as President was just
an accident of history. It won't be repeated unless people can
accept women and give them more chances to lead.

-- The Jakarta Post