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