Parties solicit candidates

By May 4, the last day for registration of legislative candidates, many parties were struggling to find candidates for the House of Representatives (DPR) and regional council members. As the time approached midnight, I received a telephone call from an old friend in Semarang (from 1981 to 1983 I was regional office head of a government agency in Semarang). He asked me whether I was willing to be put forward by one of the political parties as a legislative candidate representing Central Java. I asked him whether the party had many supporters. He was not sure. I declined the offer because if they registered me as a candidate and I was not chosen, what was the use? It would only embarrass me, and I still care for my name. Besides, I was afraid that if I agreed to the proposal, I would be asked to contribute money for the party.

Women candidates are very much in demand, because parties plan to propose at least 20 percent women candidates. Actually, women with the potential to become legislative candidates are rather rare. My wife (a graduate of a teachers' high school only, but with experience in women's organizations) also received an offer to be a legislative candidate by a party established by an elite group of former government officials. My wife also rejected the offer, saying she had no experience in politics. She would rather be active in the community and in social work. I was also concerned that a party contribution would be asked of her. As we are both retirees and are not rich, we must look for any extra income to make ends meet. Although the salary of a legislator is big -- about Rp 5 million -- there is no certainty whether one will be elected. And just to register as a candidate costs money.

Perhaps many people have had similar experiences to us. However, many other people want to get seats in the DPR. They are even willing to pay a great amount of money to their party. It is said that one well-known party which is already in the present DPR charges Rp 100 million for candidates wishing to become legislators in the DPR. Is that true, Pak Hamzah Haz?

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta