'I'm not voting no good candidates'
The process for the upcoming 2004 general election has begun with voter registration. Field officers coordinated by the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) started collecting data on Tuesday to register eligible voters as well as to conduct a national census. At least six million people in Jakarta are expected to vote in the elections. The Jakarta Post talked to some of them about the general election issue.
Ashari, 45, is the owner of a sidewalk food stall on Jl. Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta. He lives nearby with his wife, while his four children stay in Lamongan, East Java, with their grandparents:
I learned from the newspaper that this month is the beginning of voter registration. I am aware of the procedures.
It seems like it is just a waste of time because I think the general election is no longer an important issue for me. There is no guarantee that the general election will improve our country.
To be honest, I have been a member of a group that has been abstaining from voting since the previous general election. I really don't see any benefit in participating in the general election.
In addition, I haven't seen anyone capable of leading the country and therefore no one is worth voting for. I think the candidates are just being boastful in their campaigns and want to win over public support. As soon as they are elected and secure a good position they will ignore those who voted for them.
I think that the hundreds of political parties here are just competing hard for money and positions. That's the main objective in politics. So who is there to vote for?
The participating political parties will get an inflated budget to run their campaign. Money matters, doesn't it? I don't care about whoever leads the country. It won't mean that low- income earners such as myself will have a better life after the elections.
Therefore, I prefer not to vote. If I did, I would go home saying that I had registered here even though I didn't do it for myself.
Wardjo, 50, sells pestle and mortars made of stone. He lives in Kranji, Bekasi, east of Jakarta. His wife and son live in Bojonegoro, Central Java:
I didn't know that voter registration had started this month. Usually there is an announcement about that in my village. Well, I'll have to go home by the end of this month to register myself.
As a low-income earner, I just follow the rules that stipulate every citizen has to vote in the general election. I am also doing it despite the fact that all the leaders in the country are dishonest and turn a blind eye to the poor.
I am voting as otherwise I'm afraid something unexpected might happen to me or my family.
On the other hand, I also realize that voting in the upcoming election is something like buying a grab bag because we don't know what we are getting.
And it's no wonder. Even when I have to vote for a village chief, I often choose the wrong person. I think that many times candidates are mislead by the performance and pompous promises of the candidates.
However, I just try to go along with the Javanese proverb that says: 'Now is the time to be foolish, and if we don't join in, we will get nothing'. I will vote, but I won't care about the results.
Heri, 30, sells siomay (a form of dim sum) from his cart. He lives in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, while his wife and daughter live in Majalengka, West Java:
I wasn't sure that voter registration had already started. So I guess next week I have to go home to register because that is what we have to do.
I have to admit, though, that I am confused about whether I can vote in the upcoming general election.
Looking back on past elections, they did not make conditions here any better. It seems to be to no avail if I vote or not. The big question is: Who should I vote for?
I don't think any of the leaders have really shown a commitment in siding with low-income earners. They have let people down by allowing them to suffer miserably every day. They cannot stop inflation, which has made life so much harder.
So would you think I was wrong if I didn't care about the general election? Thinking about how to survive is much more important for me rather than thinking of a meaningless general election. Low-income earners are just in dire need of a break in life. That's all.
-- Leo Wahyudi S