PKS told to produce detailed platform
PKS told to produce detailed platform
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
It is both new and different, with a remarkable organizational
structure and substantial internal discipline.
But can the Islamic-oriented Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)
revise Indonesia's political history and emerge as a winner in
the 2009 elections?
James Fox, from the Australian National University's Research
School of Pacific and Asian Studies, said that it was too early
to judge as the PKS has yet to come up with clear and detailed
political platform.
Addressing a seminar held by the party on Monday, he pointed
to the historical reality that sees the votes of Muslims as more
or less fixed and stable, and otherwise declining, with no sign
of growth towards a majority.
"This is what PKS must recognize and respond to if it was to
succeed," Fox said on the first day of the PKS' week-long
national congress in Jakarta.
The PKS did modestly in the 1999 general elections, but in
2004 it did remarkably well, thanks to its consistently clean and
caring image and campaigning.
In 1999 around 1.4 million voted for the party, this
increasing to 8.3 million votes in last year's election,
representing around 7.3 percent of the total vote. In the recent
direct regional elections across the country, the PKS won 34
elections for regents and mayors.
Fox, however, noted that around 7 percent of votes in general
elections does not guarantee a political voice. It could be
improved to 15 percent to 20 percent at the next election, but it
would still be very difficult to reach a majority.
As a participant in the political process, Fox added, PKS must
endeavor to deliver on what it promises or suffer a loss in
support.
"The party's current agenda is by no means entirely clear.
There are various issues that could be raised here, for instance,
a discussion of the meaning and interpretations of the Medina
Chapter as proposed by some PKS members."
The Chapter refers to the period of the life of the Prophet
Muhammad when he moved from Mecca to Medina, where he made a pact
under which all the different religions in society were free to
practice their religion, but were not allowed to attack each
other. This formed the basis of civil society.
Fox said that the aspects of practical politics were not yet
articulated in the PKS agenda.
At the grassroots level, the PKS is known for its serious
commitment to fighting corruption, compared to other parties.
"On almost all policy aspects of modern governance, PKS' views
remain to be articulated in sufficient detail to be considered
credible, such as policies on health, education and environment,"
Fox said.
The most pressing task for the immediate future of the party,
he added, was to form policy working groups to consider and
formulate ideas on the range of modern governance essential to
the future Indonesia.
The PKS should also involve itself in ongoing debates on
governance that are now occurring in the Muslim world, and be
more creative in taking the lead and providing a model for the
future, Fox said.
Voicing a similar view, Kompas media group cofounder Jacob
Oetama said the PKS needs to reflect a more civilized face of
Islam that promotes pluralism.
"The party needs to emphasize the economic aspect that goes
beyond merely protesting against legislators' demands for salary
hikes or official cars," he asserted.
Economic aspects were also raised by researcher Mohammad
Qodari from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), whose surveys
often showed that the economy consistently appeared as the most
important element that the people took into serious account.
"Moreover, the PKS also needs to produce more competent and
credible figures to earn public trust. Consolidation with other
parties is also essential, as well as internal consolidation
between its moderate and conservative members," Qodari told the
same seminar.