Experts lament supporters' behavior

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

One week into the campaign period for the elections, it is apparent that people's enthusiasm to attend indoor political campaigns and participate in party convoys is meager.

Some people in the low-income group insist on payment for their attendance. Experts lament this emerging trend but say that the public is simply following the example set by politicians.

Imam Prasodjo, a noted sociologist, said that learning from past experiences, people were aware that few politicians would keep their promises once they were in power.

Hence, people adopt different party uniforms each day to get additional income. There had no interest in listening to the speeches, he said. Imam said he noticed many people campaigning for Golkar, for example, were actually the same people campaigning for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI- P).

"People are smarter now. Politicians offer them empty promises and they respond by taking the money offered by a certain political party but voting for another in the elections," Imam told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

However, he said this trend must be reversed as political participation should not be driven by money but by genuine ideological preferences.

Reports say Rp 50,000 (US$6) is a common fee for a "supporter's" participation in a rally. A number of housewives at certain parties' campaigns said that it was better for them to take their little children to rallies and earn money than stay at home and earn nothing.

In the West Jakarta district of Slipi, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers hung a banner pronouncing that they would attend party campaigns for Rp 50,000 per person.

Franz-Magnis Suseno, a noted political scientist, shared Imam's view concerning the behavioral pattern of "taking first, voting for someone else later." Politicians, he said, could no longer fool people due to their bad track records.

"This is not an encouraging development, but at least people are learning something from politicians. Later, people must be educated that a party should be chosen for its achievements," said Magnis.

He expressed his hope that money would not be a decisive factor in determining the outcome of the elections.

Imam said that political parties should not count on money to attract voters. He insisted that a better basis for winning votes was the gradual establishment of a good track record.

"For me, the three-week campaign is not enough. You can only gain people's trust by giving them money, rice or instant noodles once or twice during this period. Parties must build good rapport for years before the campaign period. Where were they, for example, when the outbreak of dengue fever hit the country?" he asked.

He said, to his knowledge, no parties had taken any measures to help people deal with the outbreak.