Here comes the opposition

In this consensus-loving nation, publicly opposing another's ideas used to be taboo. During the repressive 32-year rule of Soeharto that ended in 1998, opposing the government's policy could mean jail. So strong was the attachment to unanimity, it occasionally took a bizarre turn. A case in point is that of a certain top government official, who boasted that he could make his secretary agree with him that it was cloudy out, even though it was a bright and sunshiny day.

Political opposition existed only in the first decade of the nation's history, before founding president Sukarno stymied all opposition by introducing his self-styled "guided democracy" in 1959. For four decades afterwards, the nation had no clue as to what a political opposition was about. When Sukarno gave way to Soeharto, the army general ruled with an iron fist and reduced the House into a rubber stamp body. Dissenting voices were raised only shortly before and after Soeharto's downfall in May 1998, when people became so enchanted by their sudden freedom that confusion seemed to reign supreme.

The House was transformed into such a powerful body overnight that it dealt a fatal blow to the government of Abdurrahman Wahid, leading to the impeachment of the reform-minded president in 2001. Opposition against the government appeared to come from everywhere, and this persisted during the last three years of Megawati Soekarnoputri's government: House opposition came from the faction of the ruling party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and even a Cabinet minister such as State Minister of National Development Planning Kwik Kian Gie -- also a PDI-P executive -- who made a conscientious effort to criticize government policies.

With such a checkered opposition record, it is encouraging to learn that at least one political party has opted to don the opposition cap in the House. The six-year-old Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) decided early this week to refrain from nominating its leader as presidential candidate, citing the small number of votes it won in the legislative election. As of this week, the PKS has garnered a little over seven percent of votes -- against its 20 percent estimate. The PKS has also refused to allow its leader to team up as running mate with another party's presidential candidate.

Incidentally, several public figures had earlier voiced the need for an opposition party. A group of leading political observers with different backgrounds, led by noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid, forged an alliance early this month to become an opposition group -- especially in the event that the election fails to prevent rotten politicians from taking power.

The Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has also voiced the need for a strong opposition. He reasoned that, rather than having a broad coalition in both the Cabinet and the legislature, a limited coalition in these institutions coupled with a strong outside opposition would be more desirable. The retired army general, who was the top security minister until last month, correctly lamented that despite the existence of a multi-party coalition in the current Cabinet, the House had not always been supportive of the government's initiatives.

The United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK), another upstart party, has vowed from the beginning to take up an opposition role. Disappointed by the Megawati administration's performance, the two-year-old party has made improving the government system its top priority. This should come as no surprise, since the party was founded by former top bureaucrat Ryaas Rasyid. But unlike Susilo's Democratic Party, which has garnered 7.5 percent of votes, the PPDK trails behind with less than one percent.

Unfortunately, any opposition party has, as a rule, been looked down upon in this country. Often, such a move was perceived as being ill chosen. During the last five years, politicians have been all too happy to land top government jobs once their parties were defeated. It would have been more elegant, however, if they had remained in the opposition camp, no matter how disrespectful the contemporary perception of such a role.

The presence of an opposition party in Indonesia's government -- and political history -- is long overdue. Its Whether within or without the House, its existence is a must for a healthy democracy. The question is, what kind of an opposition should we have? Certainly, it was not a ruthless opposition that toppled Abdurrahman Wahid. We believe in a strong opposition that respects the rules of the game.

Of course, an opposition cannot be created through mere rhetoric. Tireless efforts and intensive political education are needed to counter the negative political culture surrounding the concept of an opposition party. In this context, the PKS' initiative is highly commendable and will hopefully mark the beginning of a new stage in Indonesian politics.