Trust in high state institutions drops: Survey

A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Public trust of high state institutions -- particularly the presidential office and the People's Consultative Assembly -- has dropped significantly in 2003, a survey says.

The survey, organized by the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), showed that people's trust in the presidential office had dropped from 52 percent in 2002 to 37 percent in 2003.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 3,000 respondents in 32 provinces across the country from June 1 through July 5.

The people's confidence in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) also went down from 48 percent in 2002 to 38 percent in 2003, and surprisingly the public's trust in the House of Representatives (DPR) rose slightly from 32 percent in 2002 to still a very poor 34 percent in 2003.

Only 35 percent of respondents still had faith in the Attorney General's Office (AGO), 36 percent in the Supreme Court, and 42 percent in the National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM).

According to the survey, the high level of dissatisfaction with presidential office was attributed to poor performance of President Megawati Soekarnoputri in implementing promised reforms. In the survey, people were also not satisfied with the DPR despite the slight rise, particularly in its function in controlling the government and drafting the state budget.

Interestingly, however, the people at large remain enthusiastic to cast their votes in 2004, when the country is scheduled to hold its first ever direct presidential election.

According to Valina Singka Subekti, a member of the General Elections Commissions (KPU), the peculiar trend was attributed to the change in the election, which makes the 2004 general elections much more democratic and accountable than previous polls.

"This has been a powerful attraction for the people, encouraging them to cast votes in the next elections," Valina told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The new election law allows the people to vote directly for their favorite president and vice president ticket. It also rules that people can directly vote for their representatives in the House of Representatives (DPR), provincial and regental legislature members. In previous elections, people could only vote for political parties.

Valina also said that Indonesia's political history had traditionally had high voter turnout in every election.

In the first general election in 1955, voter turnout was 88 percent, while during the Order Era, voter turnout was always more than 90 percent. Even in 1999, the first democratic election after the downfall of former president Soeharto, voter turnout was still above 90 percent.

The high level of voter interest will apparently continue in the 2004 elections, as the IFES survey found that 70 percent of respondents in the survey expressed a likelihood of voting and a further 23 percent said it was probable that they would vote.

Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction level

Satisfaction Dissatisfaction

1. KOMNAS HAM : 42% 1. Presidency : 55% 2. MPR : 38% 2. DPR : 54% 3. Presidency : 37% 3. MPR : 51% 4. Supreme Court: 36% 4. AGO : 51% 5. AGO : 35% 5. Supreme Court: 49% 6. DPR : 34% 6. KOMNAS HAM : 45% ======================================================== Source: IFES, 2003