Can 'new faces' keeps promises?

Can 'new faces' keeps promises?

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta

Political analysts have warned Jakarta city councillors-elect not
to betray their constituents, stressing that people's attitudes
would change very quickly should they feel double-crossed.

Smita Notosusanto of the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro)
told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the many new faces that
would grace the council were a strong indication that Jakartans
had set high hopes on the council.

However, she warned that hope and trust would change to
antipathy if the new councillors didn't keep the promises they
made during the campaign period.

"The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), for example, underlines
that it is caring and free of corruption. The public will monitor
them. I find such a slogan hard to believe until it is proved,"
Smita said.

Out of the 85 incumbent councillors, only 15 were reelected by
the public to set up the 75-member city council.

Political analyst with the Indonesian Institute of Science
(LIPI) Indria Samego, said voting for a politician did not mean
that you were handing over a blank check.

He said the emergence of new politicians was evidence of
public dissatisfaction over the incumbent councillors'
performances, as they had not addressed crucial issues, such as
widespread corruption, poverty and injustice.

The PKS gained more votes this year based on the performance
of its four councillors, Indria said.

He emphasized that the 16 councillors-elect from the
Democratic Party were yet to prove themselves.

"We still don't know if they were elected on their own merits,
or because of the popularity of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Time
will tell," he told the Post.

The April 5 legislative election result showed the PKS will
dominate the council with 18 seats; followed by the Democratic
Party, 16 seats; the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI-P), 11 seats; and Golkar Party, seven seats.

Currently, the PDI-P dominates the council with 30 seats;
followed by National Mandate Party (PAN), 13 seats: United
Development Party (PPP), 12 seats; and Golkar with eight seats.
Meanwhile, PKS currently holds four seats.

Smita said the large shift of seats from old political parties
to new ones showed the politic condition in the city was dynamic.

She added that intensive public control over representatives
in Jakarta -- councillors and legislators -- was due to several
reasons:

First, Jakarta, which is relatively small compared to other
provinces, allows more direct contact between councillors and the
public. Second, Jakartans are more well-informed than others.
Third, Jakartans generally have a higher level of education than
people of other regions.

Indria added that if politicians wanted long and successful
careers, they must first put in a good performance.

I-box
Seats at the City Council
.TB3.50" 4.50" 5.50"
Party upcoming current

tenure tenure
Prosperous Justice Party
(PKS) 18 4
Democratic Party 16 -
Indonesia Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) 11 30
Golkar Party 7 8
United Development Party (PPP) 6 13
National Mandate Party (PAN) 6 12
National Awakening Party (PKB) 4 3
Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) 4 -
Reform Star Party (PBR) 3 -
Others