One country, two parties

One country, two parties

From Koran Tempo

The General Elections Committee (KPU) has done its utmost in fulfilling its duties with the facilities available and under existing conditions. It is the election timetable and the preparation period that should be reviewed for next time.

For such a big country as Indonesia, the parties to contest the election should be determined at least a year ahead. Those wishing to set up new political parties should think again to avoid pursuing mere personal ambitions -- there are already a variety of parties they can join.

The experience gained from two elections has shown how too many parties have wasted resources and fooled the population. The time has come for parties to merge into two major groups as is normally the case in a democracy: a ruling party and an opposition party.

Strangely, in Indonesia, the aim to become an opposition group is overrun by a desire to seek positions and power. Such an attitude should be revised into a commitment toward a greater national goal, instead of personal and clique interests.

ADDINUL YAKIN Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara