Money politics can demolish democracy

Money politics can demolish democracy

By Aleksius Jemadu

BANDUNG (JP): In this era of political reform most politicians
are trying hard to convince people they are real reformists. But
the difference between a reformist and an opportunist is obvious.

The reformer has a genuine respect for the people and regards
his profession as a noble service for the people's greatest
benefit.

An opportunist is basically a someone who seeks power. He or
she likes self-aggrandizement. He will not hesitate to use (or
misuse) state facilities to seek popularity. While a genuine
reformist wants to be a populist leader, an opportunist wants to
be seen as a populist leader. An opportunist is at best a
political pretender.

Recently we were shocked by a report made by the coordinator
of the Urban Poor Consortium, Wardah Hafidz. According to the
report, Golkar Party and the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR)
misused state facilities, the social safety net fund and funds
for small-scale loans. Hafidz demanded Golkar and PDR be barred
from the June 7 polls for their involvement in money politics
(The Jakarta Post, May 27, 1999). It is widely believed that
money politics has become a real threat to the legitimacy of the
upcoming elections.

It is undeniable that both Golkar Party and PDR are closely
connected with the present government. Many Cabinet members are
prominent figures in Golkar Party. Adi Sasono, Minister of
Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, is known to be PDR's
"patron". PDR has also made him their presidential candidate.

Hafidz said she had strong evidence both parties used the
state's money to promote their own interests.

In this period of transition, Indonesia's incumbent leaders
are challenged by the need to meet the democratic demands of
society, not only in the form of greater political participation
for the people but also in the redistribution of economic
resources. The government, particularly the Ministry of
Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, knows that members of
cooperatives and owners of small-enterprises were deeply
frustrated by the New Order government's loan policies, which
gave too much preferential treatment to conglomerates.

The problem is that many people are suspicious of the real
objective of the government's new economic populism. Taking into
account the obvious partisanship of some government leaders in
the upcoming elections, it makes perfect sense to at least
question the political motives behind the government's economic
policies.

If Golkar Party and PDR have used public money for their own
political interests then the whole process of democratization is
in jeopardy. Politicians who use public money to promote their
own political interests commit two wrongs. First, it is against
the law to use state funds for personal or partisan interests.
Second, they are fooling the people into thinking that they are
real democrats, while in fact they are not. With politicians like
this, political reform cannot go beyond wishful thinking.

The writer is a lecturer in the Department of International
Relations at Parahyangan Bandung University.