Legislators admit to having ignored their constituents

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A number of legislators admitted on Tuesday that they had largely ignored their constituents, but shifted the blame for this neglect to Indonesia's electoral system.

The deputy chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the House of Representatives, Chozin Chumaidy, said the severe lack of communication between legislators and their constituents was a direct result of the country's proportional electoral system.

"We have adopted a proportional system, which requires voters to choose the symbols of political parties (when voting)," Chozin told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

A legislator from President Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), J.E. Sahetapy, echoed Chozin, saying the distance between the people and their representatives in the legislature was the result of the country's electoral system.

Chozin called for the adoption of a combination of a proportional and district electoral system, which would enable voters to choose their representatives.

Under the proportional system, people vote for political parties, which choose their representatives in the legislature. With a district electoral system, people would vote for individuals, compelling candidates to go out and meet and greet the people.

A survey conducted by the International Foundation for Election Systems Indonesia showed the majority of Indonesians could not identify their representatives in the legislature.

Of the 3,580 people surveyed nationwide, only 4 percent were able to name their representatives in the legislative body.

"I am surprised by the results of the survey; perhaps we have to encourage more meetings with our constituents," Chozin said.

Sahetapy, however, rejected suggestions that political parties were exploiting the public to further their own narrow interests.

The executive director of the Center for Electoral Reform, Smita Notosusanto, disputed claims that the proportional electoral system was to blame for legislators ignoring their constituents.

"It all depends on the political will of legislators. They could open an office to hold meetings with their constituents if they wished," Smita told the Post.

Ferry Mursyidan Baldan of Golkar acknowledged that there was a lack of communication between legislators and constituents.

But Ferry also disagreed that the situation was the result of the proportional electoral system, which the nation has employed for years.

"Don't place the blame on the system. This is simply because of a lack of responsibility on the part of legislators," he said.

Ferry, who is the deputy chairman of House Commission II for home and legal affairs, said many legislators slighted their constituents, but claimed that this did not represent the majority of legislators.

He also said House members had the time to meet with their constituents and discuss their problems and wishes.

The current schedule for the House gives legislators four months off each year.