Election bill urgent

Election bill urgent

From Koran Tempo

The 2004 general elections are approaching, therefore proper preparations are required, particularly in view of the completely new system to be applied in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, we are concerned about the delay in the approval of the election bill by the House of Representatives (DPR), as mentioned by a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Imam B. Prasojo. In fact, the election law serves as the basis of KPU's operation, which involves the formation of election committees in cities/regencies, voters' data collection, information system application, etc.

We are convinced that the respectable members of the DPR understand the complaint of the KPU, but the main constraint at the moment is the short term interests of the political elite in the legislative body, thus giving priority to the relevant political groups instead of the nation and state.

What happens is a tug-of-war in the DPR because the legislators struggle for the electoral system that most favors the political party concerned. It is indeed ironical that the nation's fate is in the hands of the elite who fail to execute the will of the people. We should urge that the DPR speedily pass the election bill and those hampering the process should not be elected in the coming election.

ANDI BASSO, Manila