Golkar lagging behind in cyber campaign

Golkar lagging behind in cyber campaign

Recently several Jakarta dailies ran the news that the United
Development Party (PPP) had started using the Internet for its
election campaign. It seems PPP is pioneering the "Cyber
Campaign."

How come Golkar was not the first party to use the Internet?
They are financially, and in human resource terms, in a better
position to do so. From this we have to deduce that Golkar's
research section was not innovative enough to apply this
technology.

This seems unsatisfactory when compared to its TV, radio and
print media campaign. Nonetheless, cyber campaigning needs to be
monitored. Uncensored messages are often delivered in a vulgar
way and the internet will reach all corners of the globe very
soon.

U.S. Vice President Al Gore was concerned about "Super
Highway" technology four years ago, because it could forge social
changes, behavior and the world's cultures. The PPP appears to be
leading the with the use of the Internet in its campaign. Even
though Golkar's chief hurriedly made a statement that the party
was opening a home page to offer information about their
campaign.

Admittedly, more preparation is needed before the Internet
should be used as a campaign tool and the pros and cons
considered. It can be likened to building infrastructure which
takes a long time. Designing an on-line system or home page,
would take at most a day. It only involves transforming printed
information into a digital program.

MASRODIN

Semarang, Central Java