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.