Popular choice ignored?

Popular choice ignored?

From Rakyat Merdeka

With reference to the letter from Ms. S. Afifiyah published on
July 22, 1999, in this paper, allow me to give the following
comments:

First, your praise for the statement made by Mr. AM Fatwa
about the capability and acceptability of presidential candidates
is quite all right. The point is whether or not we have to ignore
the fact that to the people their choice, as expressed in the
votes they cast in the June 7 polls, serves as their main
parameter or yardstick for the capability and acceptability of
presidential candidates as offered by each party in the
campaigning period.

It is quite surprising to find that many people, especially
those from the intellectual groups, have their doubts about the
capability of a leader simply, perhaps, because one does not talk
much in the mass media. Although during the era of the repressive
ruler, the mass media might not have published what this leader
said as an important news item. Besides, this doubt may also stem
from the fact that this leader does not have an university
degree.

If this country really needs a leader who can talk a lot to
the mass media, just organize a contest on talking and the
winner, i.e. someone who can talk the most, will be our leader.
Or, if this country simply needs a leader with a row of academic
degrees, just find one in the universities across the country.
There must be some people with five, six, or more university
degrees. Then one of them can be made the country's leader.

In my opinion, the capability of a leader must be seen from
the extent of his/her love for the people and the extent of the
people's love for him/her. A leader who loves his/her people and
is loved by them will always be able to direct and control
his/her people. Besides, the extent of his/her consistency must
also be seen so that the people can be certain about how to
behave in any particular situation. A leader with great
consistency will not make the people doubtful about taking a
stance toward a certain event. A leader like this will not say
yes and then no within minutes. A leader like this will not sign
something one minute and then forget what he/she has signed
another minute.

Second, the presidential and legislative election in the
United States that Ms Afifiyah has mentioned in her letter as an
example is not appropriate. In the United States, the American
people directly elect their president. A U.S. president is not
elected by the legislative body. However, as presidential
elections and the election of members of legislators takes place
at the same time, it is always likely that one party wins in the
legislative election but loses in the presidential election.

Additionally, in the United States, the general elections are
participated in by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party,
so it does not stand to reason to say that once the winner in a
U.S. election was the Christian Party.

Third, I fully support the call made by Ms. Afifiyah that the
legislators should realize that they represent the people and
that in this position they should elect a president in accordance
with the popular aspirations expressed in the recent general
election. Remember, it is the people who are sovereign, and it is
also the people who exercise this sovereignty.

I. SIMANJUNTAK

Bekasi, West Java