House committee agrees on keeping old PR system

House committee agrees on keeping old PR system

JAKARTA (JP): A special committee of the House of
Representatives agreed on Thursday to retain the old proportional
representation (PR) system for next year's general election, but
with major improvements to make it more democratic.

The government backed down on its original proposal for a
district system in which people would vote for candidates rather
than parties, after the three political parties currently
represented in the House called for a retention of the PR system.

"The proper spirit is to fix the shortcomings of the past,"
Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said during a deliberation
of the government-drafted bill on elections with the special
committee set up to consider this vital matter.

Whatever system was adopted, it would have to be better than
the past one, Syarwan said.

On Monday, Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the
government-supported Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) were all
united in demanding the retention of the PR system, stressing
that there was not enough time to adopt a new system given that
the election should be held in June.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) faction, which is guaranteed some
seats in the House without having to contest the election, is
indifferent on the issue.

There was no immediate reaction to the decision from the new
political parties which are not represented in the House. Their
views are nevertheless important given that they will also be
contesting the election for the first time next year.

The past system restricted the election to the three parties
and was designed to give maximum advantage to Golkar, which won
all six elections held under former president Soeharto.

Syarwan underlined some of the things that the nation would
miss out on by not adopting the district system.

Legislators elected through a district system would be more
accountable to their constituents than if they were elected
through a PR system, he said.

Election campaigning under the district system would be much
more peaceful and localized. Under the PR system, the tendency
was for parties to organize massive rallies, he said.

He pointed out that given the current fragile political
situation, there was a danger that such rallies might lead to
unrest.

The four factions in the 87-strong special committee shared
the government's security concerns and stressed that these should
be addressed in the new election law.

Ryaas Rasyid, who heads the government team which drafted the
bill, told the meeting that a government regulation on election
campaigns would have to drafted separately from the bill.

"Basically, we agree that future elected legislators will be
accountable to the people," Ryaas said.

The special committee on Thursday also debated how the
election should be administered and supervised.

The Golkar, PPP and ABRI factions objected to the government
proposal to include public figures in the national and local
election committees.

They said a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree on
general election specified that the election committees consist
of representatives of the government and the political parties.

The inclusion of public figures, such as scholars or religious
leaders like Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, would
strengthen the credibility of the committees, Ryaas said.

The government would not insist on their inclusion but the
factions would be wise to heed the warning, he said. "If the
people later find faults with the election law, they would blame
the political parties, and not the government," he added.

PDI legislator Wiyanjono also warned of the possibility of
political parties boycotting the elections.

The special committee endorsed the government's proposal for a
single general election supervisory body, which should be
independent and established by the Supreme Court.

The factions and the government agreed on allowing the public
as well as foreigners to actively monitor the general election.

They said foreign observers must first notify the government
of their intention.

The session was adjourned to Thursday. (aan)