Election system already proportional: Hartono

Election system already proportional: Hartono

JAKARTA (JP): Despite the infancy of the Indonesian Institute
of Sciences' study of possible electoral reforms, an Armed Forces
official expressed his confidence in the existing system.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono said the proportional
representation system of general elections, which has been used
during the last five elections, is adequate and not in need of
change.

"The system..is already 'proportional', it doesn't have to be
replaced. However, it's the implementation (of the system) that
should be improved," Hartono told reporters in Bandung after
opening a course at the army staff and command college (Seskoad)
on Saturday.

He explained that experts at the college which are
participating in the government's campaign to review the election
system have so far reached a consensus that no changes are
needed.

"Based on the temporary results of the study, Seskoad...agreed
that the system doesn't need to be changed, only the
implementation needs to be examined," he was quoted by the Antara
news agency as saying.

However, he acknowledged that the Seskoad study is not
finished. "The study is still halfway...The process will be long,
we still need more suggestions from experts."

While conducting its own study, Seskoad has been receiving and
processing inputs from experts as well as forwarding them to
LIPI.

Shortly after President Soeharto instructed LIPI in February
to examine the electoral system and replace it with an
alternative system if necessary, the ruling Golkar party
immediately stated it was ready for changes.

The two smaller election contestants, the United Development
Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), are more
cautious, however, stating a preference for the current system
with tighter supervision and fairness in its implementation.

Golkar has won each of the last five general elections.
Analysts believe that if the alternative first-past-the-post
system is applied, the PDI and PPP will most likely are do worse
at election time.

Meanwhile, commander of the Seskoad college, Maj. Gen. Arifin
Siregar, acknowledged that there are shortcomings in the
implementation of the current system of general elections.

He refused to name them, however, saying "because of the poor
results, many parties are dissatisfied."

"Those people are of the opinion that the solution is to
change the system," he said, adding that he disagreed with the
opinion.

"It's not yet certain that the system is not good," he said,
"but this is why Seskoad is currently examining the system."

The widely-proposed alternative system, he said, also has
shortcomings. (swe)