Polls to disappoint reformists

Polls to disappoint reformists

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

According to a new survey, next year's elections are likely to
produce unscrupulous politicians who have no commitment to
fighting corruption and enforcing the law, and more and more
people are becoming disillusioned with the so-called reform
movement.

The survey, conducted by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI)
and released on Monday, revealed that 68 percent, or 1,469 of
2,160 respondents from 372 villages and cities, wanted economic
recovery and job opportunities as well as cheap basic commodities
to be the main priorities after the elections, while only 5
percent of respondents saw corruption eradication as being
important.

The survey was conducted through direct interviews in all 32
provinces, and contains a margin of error of 2.5 percent.

It also revealed that some 60.3 percent, or 1,361 respondents,
said that former dictator Soeharto's New Order political system
was much better than the current one. Only 25.2 percent of
respondents said the current system was better than the New Order
regime.

"With such psychological conditions and perception, things are
not looking good for the 2004 elections. It is difficult to
imagine that the voters will critically choose leaders based on
sound platforms," the survey said.

A total of 24 political parties have been declared eligible to
contest next year's legislative election scheduled for April 5.
Following this, a direct presidential election will be held on
July 5.

According to the survey, the public are disappointed with the
economic crisis that hit the country in tandem with the emergence
of demands for reform.

"Over-obsession with the improvement of the economic situation
and a desire on the part of New Order politicians to make a
comeback will make the voters easily manipulated by unscrupulous
politicians who cleverly raise economic issues even though they
will lead the country into further corruption and weak law
enforcement," it added.

The results of the survey were announced by LSI executives
Denny J. A. and Mohammad Qodary during a press conference.

The survey suggested that 61.5 percent of the respondents who
deemed the New Order era better than the Reform Era came from
cities instead of villages.

At least 30.1 percent of those disappointed with the Reform
Era preferred Golkar to lead the next government, 10.4 percent
the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan),
8.1 percent the National Awakening Party (PKB), 7 percent United
Development Party (PPP), and 6.4 percent the National Mandate
Party (PAN).

Most respondents (12.1 percent) disappointed with the Reform
Era picked Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung as their preferred
choice for the next president, followed by 11.5 percent for
Megawati Soekarnoputri, and 8.4 percent for Sri Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X.

Among respondents satisfied with the Reform Era, 25.8 percent
preferred the PDI Perjuangan, followed by Golkar on 13.7 percent,
PKB on 9 percent, and PAN on 7.4 percent.

Some 27.9 percent of the pro-reform respondents would vote for
Megawati as the next president, followed by Amien Rais on 10.1
percent and Abdurrahman Wahid on 7.9 percent.

The LSI recommended that voter education be intensified to
help voters realize that corruption, law enforcement and
terrorism were the main issues facing the country.

The institute said that it would be impossible for the country
to develop into a prosperous and stable state if corruption was
allowed to continue.

Voters also needed to be warned not to trust politicians'
promises to restore the economy, but instead be educated about
the need to scrutinize politicians' records on law enforcement
and corruption, the LSI said.

"Otherwise, the 2004 elections will become a means for
unscrupulous politicians to take control of the reins of power
again," the survey said.

Early this month, another survey, this time conducted by
Charney Research of New York and AC Nielsen Indonesia and
commissioned by The Asia Foundation, found that the majority of
people eligible to vote in next year's general election were
politically alienated, intolerant and hoped for the return of a
strong leader like Soeharto.

At least 65 percent of adults surveyed between June and August
2003 said that they did not like politics at all because of
widespread political corruption and poor political education.

It also found that 53 percent of voters preferred a strong
leader like former president Soeharto, even if this meant that
rights and freedoms would be reduced.

About 58 percent of those who supported a stronger government
at the expense of rights and freedom had an educational
background of high school or more, the survey said.