Nationalist-Islamic PSI to exploit diverse support in elections

Rais Hidayat, Research and Development Unit, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

This is the 11th article in a series of the 24 political parties contesting the 2004 elections.

he acronym of the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI), or Partai Sarikat Indonesia, once belonged to an early 20th-century party with nationalist and Islamic characteristics. It was founded upon a leading merchants' association, the Muslim Unity (SI), or Sarikat Islam.

Today's PSI, however, brings together parties and organizations representing different religions, and workers and businesspeople both. Leaders describe the party as nationalist, religious and populist, which would have to be detailed more clearly in its legislative campaign.

Its religious perspective is inspired by HOS Cokroaminoto, the founding father of SI, said PSI Secretary-General M. Jumhur Hidayat.

Established on Dec. 17, 2002, the PSI is formed based on a coalition of eight parties: The Indonesian Islamic Association Party (PSII), the Unity Party (PP), the Indonesian Independence Vanguard Party (IPKI), the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR), the Marhaenist Front Indonesian National Party (PNI-FM), the Indonesian National Party-Marhaen (PNI MM), the Catholic Democratic Party (PKD), and the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI).

Each of these parties gained only one seat in the 1999 election, and thus would not have qualified to run in this year's general elections on their own.

Among them are three obviously religion-based parties -- the PSII, PP and PKD -- representing both Muslims and Christians.

The PSII descended from the old PSII, which contested the 1955 and 1971 polls and can be traced to Sarikat Islam. The PP broke away from the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP).

The nationalists of the group are the PNI-FM, PNI-MM and IPKI. They claim to represent the marhaen -- the poor but self-reliant, a concept introduced by the charismatic first president of Indonesia, Sukarno. His concept, marhaenisme, was propagated by the now-defunct Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), which was the springboard for many parties over the decades.

The PDR is the only socialist party in the PSI, and is associated with intellectuals such as PDR co-founder Adi Sasono, who was former minister of cooperatives under then-president BJ Habibie.

The PSI platform seems to follow closely the ideology of Jumhur, one of the PDR's leaders. The former activist of the Bandung Institute of Technology also led Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES), the think tank affiliated with the Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI). Jumhur also led the Indonesian Labor Union Confederation (Gaspermindo).

His ideas are elaborated in his 2002 book, The Manifesto of the Third Power. Among his priorities are land reform and a clear program for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

One million new entrepreneurs can be created by better management of the credit portfolio of our banking system, he writes, which would subsequently ensue in an increased share of credit for small and medium enterprises to 50 percent, from the current rate of 10 percent.

The party is boldly targeting the minimum 17 seats, or 3 percent of legislative seats, which would allow it to go on and contest the presidential election. Jumhur says the party would achieve this through PSI's network of fishermen, farmers, workers and small-scale businesspeople.

Fittingly, its presidential candidate is Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) chairman Siswono Yudohusodo. A former Golkar executive, he is popular and his image is clean. Another plus is his considerable experience in government, with former ministerial posts in public housing and transmigration.

The PSI is also counting on the strengths of its coalition members. Among the targeted 17 seats, it expects to win two through its North Sumatra candidates, given the membership base of the Catholic Party and the Unity in Diversity Party.

The latter represents various ethnicities -- not only Chinese Indonesians, but also Indian and Pakistani Indonesians, colors of the rainbow of ethnic communities that characterize North Sumatra.

The PSI also expects to secure five seats in West Java, a stronghold of the Islamic PSII and PP. With its network of farmers and workers, the PSI is also confident in facing the stiff competition posed by other Islamic parties, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

In Central Java, PSI hopes to secure another five seats, relying on its nationalist network. The PSI's main rivals here are other champions of nationalism and the marhaen like the Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK), the Pioneers' Party (Partai Pionir) and the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme).

Leaders of the latter two parties are comparatively more popular, as they are direct descendants of Sukarno -- his daughters Rahmawati of the Pioneers' Party and Sukmawati of PNI Marhaenisme. The PSI also lacks the catchy logo most of the nationalists share, the bull.

The PSI is also looking to the networks of its founders for seats in West Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi.

It remains to be seen whether the party can maintain the broad network of cooperation among its diverse elements until their collective short-term goal is achieved -- winning seats in the legislature. Continued cooperation may be a solution -- but only if the disparate elements are truly united in at least their understanding of being "nationalist, religious and populist".