Govt opts for joint electoral system
Govt opts for joint electoral system
JAKARTA (JP): The government stood its ground during the
deliberation of its three political bills on Wednesday, insisting
that next year's general election use a combination of district
and proportional representation systems.
Represented by Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid
in a hearing with the House of Representatives, the government
insisted that it wanted the Armed Forces (ABRI) to stay in the
legislature.
The government also dismissed suggestions that it should be
excluded from the National Elections Committee and the Indonesian
Electoral Committee in order to ensure an independent poll.
Syarwan argued the government was completely ready to prepare
for the "May or June poll". Besides, he said, the proposed
"independent" National Elections Committee (KPU) need not wait
until January (when the bills are expected to be passed into law)
to launch the election's preliminary stages.
"Actually, the preparations for the poll have started,"
Syarwan said, but did not elaborate.
The election -- planned by both President B.J. Habibie's
government and the House to be held either in May or June -- will
involve the participation of many new parties. It is also
expected to introduce greater democratization after 32 years of
"Soehartoesque democracy", when elections were often rigged in
favor of the dominant Golkar grouping -- which was supported by
the powerful Armed Forces (ABRI) and the bureaucracy.
Political scientists and non-Golkar legislators have raised
doubts about the government's proposed electoral system. Some
have said the system was designed to give Golkar -- with its
well-established chapters and branches across the country -- a
head start.
Critics have proposed that the existing proportional
representation system be retained but with a thorough overhaul.
They also suggested that the government's involvement in the
organizing of the poll be ended.
According to the bills, next year's poll is expected to elect
495 House members -- with 428 elected through the district system
(215 for Java and Bali, 213 for the rest of the country) and 67
through a proportional system.
Syarwan argued the number 428 reflected a "very fair result
considering the balance of population and regions".
"So, establishing the lines of electoral districts will only
be done within a regency, and not beyond that. From the 1998
(national) regency population data, if the quota for an electoral
district is 600,000 people, there will be 24 regencies that will
need to have more than two districts," he said.
Syarwan did not name the 24 regencies.
Syarwan also expressed on Wednesday the government's intention
to retain 55 House seats for ABRI, claiming it was "the national
consensus".
The 550 House members will also be members of the 700-strong
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The remaining 150 appointed
members will be regional representatives (81) and social groups'
representatives (69).
The United Development Party (PPP) faction has criticized the
plan because the 81 regional representatives will be hand-picked
by the regional legislative councils elected in the 1997 general
election during Soeharto's regime.
"Don't exaggerate, please," Syarwan said in his response on
Wednesday.
He argued that if Golkar lost the election, the regional
legislatures would not dare pick "Golkar people" to be sent as
regional representatives to the House.
In the hearing presided over by Hari Sabarno of the Armed
Forces faction, Syarwan said the government had taken steps to
ensure a free and fair poll.
The House on Wednesday established an 87-strong special
committee to deliberate the bills in detail. They will resume the
reading of the documents after the special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Nov. 10 to Nov. 13. (aan)