Pressure up to adopt open-list poll

Pressure up to adopt open-list poll

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Observers have put pressure on the House of Representatives (DPR)
to adopt a combination of a proportional electoral system with an
open-list of candidates for the election of legislative bodies,
saying that it would ensure a more accountable representative
system.

They are aware, however, of persistent challenges at the House
due to the fact that the conservative group remains influential
in the legislative body.

"If we continue to use the current proportional system there
will be no changes. The next election will be the same as those
in the past," said Todung Mulya Lubis, an adviser for the Center
for Electoral Reform (Cetro), on the sidelines of a simulation of
the 2004 elections here on Sunday.

A member of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Anas
Urbaningrum, acknowledged the simple and practical use of a
proportional system, but emphasized that it would create a House
that was neither accountable nor qualified.

"An open-list of candidates is promising," Anas, the former
chairman of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), said.

Both Todung and Anas were commenting on the deliberation of
the election bill now under way at the House, where most factions
oppose the combination of a proportional system with an open-list
of candidates.

The election bill outlined by the Ministry of Home Affairs
offers a modified proportional system to elect members of
legislative bodies, including the DPR, Provincial Legislative
Council for provinces (DPRD I), the Regional Legislative Council
for provinces (DPRD II) and the Regional Representatives Council
(DPD).

Critics said that the current proportional system only
produces a representative system which keeps legislators from
their constituents but places legislators under the full control
of their respective political parties.

In the past, voters chose the symbols of political parties,
while the parties' central board had the authority to determine
their representatives for the legislative bodies.

The largest party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan), was among the parties opposing the proposed
changes to the current electoral system.

PDI Perjuangan legislator Agustin Teras Narang said adopting
the government's proposal of a combined proportional system and
an open-list of candidates was "just too complicated".

Cetro conducted on Sunday a simulation of the general
election, as part of its effort to promote the modified electoral
system.

About 1,200 high school students took part in the simulation
at Soemantri Brodjonegoro stadium in South Jakarta. They chose
one of the three presidential candidates and their running mates.

Actress Nurul Arifin, singer and author Dewi Lestari and
comedians Dedy 'Miing' Gumelar and Hadi 'Unang' Prabowo acted as
the presidential candidates in the simulation.

The students also elected four members of the DPD among the 12
candidates on the list.

"We introduced a combination of the proportional system with
an open-list of candidates, hoping that legislators would make up
their minds," Cetro chairwoman Smita Notosusanto said on the
sidelines of the simulation at the stadium.

Anas hailed the simulation, saying that it would help spark
"election fever" among Indonesians sooner than expected. "This
will help our promotional program," he added.

Cetro executive director Smita Notosusanto said that similar
mock elections would also be organized in the country's big
cities including Medan in North Sumatra and Makassar in South
Sulawesi.