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)