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.