PPP and PDI cautious on changing election system
PPP and PDI cautious on changing election system
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar says it is ready for changes in the
electoral system away from the current system of proportional
representation, as hinted at by President Soeharto, but the two
minority parties are more cautious about the issue.
Golkar chairman Harmoko told reporters yesterday in Samarinda,
East Kalimantan, that his group, which has won each of the last
five general elections, was prepared for any system.
Leaders of the United Development Party (PPP) and the
Indonesian Democratic party (PDI) said separately that, while
they welcomed a change in the electoral system, it was more
important for the nation that the electoral laws and regulations
be upheld.
Soeharto asked the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) on
Tuesday to conduct a study on the best election system for the
nation, with the possibility of dropping the current system of
proportional representation in favor of a first-past-the-post
system.
LIPI was also asked to look into the mechanism for the
appointment of Armed Forces officers to the House of
Representatives (DPR).
Under the current system, 400 of the 500 seats in the DPR are
divided between Golkar, the PPP and the PDI in accordance with
their share of the votes. The other 100 seats are reserved for
representatives of the Armed Forces, whose members do not vote.
Under a first-past-the-post system, each seat in the House
would have to be contested in every district, with voters
electing their representatives rather than the political parties.
Political commentators have agreed that a district-based
system would give Golkar an even greater advantage over the other
two parties.
Harmoko, who was on a lengthy Ramadhan Safari tour of
Kalimantan, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying that
Golkar had once, already, proposed the adoption of a district-
based system, but that the other two political parties rejected
the proposal.
He said Golkar had conducted its own study about the district-
based system and was confident about its chances in a general
election using that system.
PDI chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri told reporters after
breaking the fast at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta
yesterday evening that any attempt to improve the political and
electoral system must be welcomed.
But she said it was not the system that should be replaced.
Adherence
PDI was more concerned about the adherence to the regulations
during elections, she said. "What's important is that the
political parties be included in the planning and implementation
of the elections."
Tosari Wijaya, secretary general of the United Development
Party (PPP), who attended the same dinner, concurred with
Megawati that the political parties should be given greater
control over the way elections are administered.
The PPP and PDI have complained that the present electoral
rules greatly favor Golkar. They have alleged that various
violations of the electoral rules by Golkar during past elections
have gone unpunished.
The two minority parties have also been calling for a
revamping of the electoral system. But, judging from their
reactions to the latest proposal, the last thing they want is a
move away from the proportional representation system.
Former PDI chairman Soerjadi said the fact that Soeharto had
commissioned LIPI to conduct the study was an encouraging sign.
"But it would be more important to safeguard the implementation
of a system and ensure its fairness to all election contestants."
"Actually, any system is good," Soerjadi told reporters.
"We can change the system, but it will mean nothing if its
implementation is not supported by morality and ethics," the
former PDI chief said.
"What we need to do is to improve the spirit, the conduct, the
commitment and the implementation of the electoral system of our
choice, whichever it is," Soerjadi said.
"The most important thing is that we create a sense of
security among people, so that they are not afraid to vote for
the political party of their choice," he said. "We have to admit
that at present there are people who have been pressured and
haven't felt free to vote...this is unjust."
Soerjadi said he hoped LIPI would be able to carry out its
task objectively. "It shouldn't work as a tailor who is
instructed to make something only for the interests of one
party," he said.
Abu Hartono of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction praised
Soeharto for the move, saying it reflected the President's wisdom
and sensitivity towards the nation's democratization process.
Abu said his faction had no inclination to any particular
system, as long as it fitted the nation's needs.
He said that the real question for ABRI was not whether its
role in social and political life was justifiable, because the
laws and decisions of the People's Consultative Assembly
recognized ABRI's "dual function". (swe/29)