Parties divided on ballot process

JAKARTA (JP): While party executives agree a one vote per legislator mechanism would be best for the upcoming presidential election, they expressed differences on Tuesday over whether voting should be discreet or open.

Chairman of the Golkar Party Akbar Tandjung said a secret ballot would be the "most appropriate" for the presidential election. Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais said a secret ballot would be the most democratic method for a presidential election.

But he added, "in the absence of money politics".

The presidential election is the main item on the agenda in the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which is slated for November.

Secretary-general of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Muhaimin Iskandar also said a secret ballot "contains a weakness in the possibility of money politics involved".

"I agree on a one man one vote mechanism but it has to be open," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

An open ballot clearly shows that a legislator represents his constituency rather than himself, Muhaimin said.

Amien, who spoke on his return from a minor pilgrimage to Mecca, has earlier raised fears that many Assembly members, including regional representatives and those from interest groups, would be bought off ahead of the presidential election to support the incumbent B.J. Habibie. But he added that incumbent presidents everywhere have a good chance of reelection.

One of Amien's deputies, Hasbalah M. Saad, separately said on Tuesday that an open ballot would invite the potential for "engineering".

"With a secret ballot, (Assembly members) would be more open and honest in expressing their views," he said.

Hasbalah cited Muslim factions within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) could support a male candidate, instead of its chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Some Muslim leaders started a controversy when they said only a male Muslim should be eligible for the presidency.

Free vote

A political researcher at the Institute for Policy and Community Development Studies (IPCOS) also urged on Tuesday for a secret ballot.

"Psychologically, even with a one man one vote mechanism, legislators would not be able to vote freely if they stand up while voting," Joe Fernandez said. The current political laws still imply the authority of party leaders over members.

"People could just take the money and vote for something else," he said on the possibility of bribes.

A secret ballot was essential for "democratic maturity", he said. "In the 1950s a secret ballot was no big deal," he said, referring to the days of the parliamentary system.

In last year's General Session of the Assembly, members stood up and voted on whether the military should be still given non- elected seats.

A secret ballot may determine whether TNI members vote uniformly. A TNI spokesman said members were expected to vote for the same candidate. Another high-ranking officer said his personal view was that the TNI should abstain from the voting process. Based on provisional poll results, no political party looks like garnering the majority needed to determine the next president.

Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman also told the Post on Monday that the military should remain neutral, "even to the point of not using their votes (in the People's Consultative Assembly) if necessary in deciding the outcome".

"Allow the civilian political parties to make their choice and to build up the coalition," he said, adding this would "lessen the politicization of the military" to enable them "play a constructive role in the political process."

Also on Tuesday, TNI Commander Gen. Wiranto said he supported a one man one vote system as long as it was in line with the constitution and the law. Separately, Minister of Home Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid said the possibility of PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati cooperating with Habibie in forming the next government should be seriously considered.

Meanwhile, a group of 50 non-governmental organizations on Tuesday called on the public to accept the results of the June 7 general election and the presidential election.

The Movement for Anti-Violence Against Indonesian Women (GAKTPI) said they suspected efforts to prevent Megawati from running for presidency.

Political lecturer Cornelis Lay last week spoke of attempts to establish an "extra electoral process" to determine the next president, amid the ongoing controversy of PDI Perjuangan's female presidential candidate and reports of its many Muslim legislative members.(prb/byg/swa/imn/anr)