Voters not so easily fooled: Analyst

Voters not so easily fooled: Analyst

Ridwan Max Sijabat
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Don't be fooled by the apparent enthusiasm for give aways from
political parties -- including money -- many people are aware of
what party and who to vote for, an analyst here said.

The major parties might think their campaigns are successfully
erasing the collective memory of their past performance, said
Mochtar Pabottingi on Tuesday.

But although many people, "especially the needy and the
unemployed accept money from any party paying them to campaign,
they are no longer foolish," Mochtar said, "They are selective
and are on the alert for unscrupulous politicians".

The Coalition against Rotten Politicians comprising several
non-governmental organizations, has published a list of
politicians and their alleged wrongdoings including rights
violations and corruption, raising much controversy.

In particular, Mochtar said, many have lost confidence in
President Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Vice President Hamzah Haz of
United Development Party (PPP) who should be held responsible for
the prevalent corruption. He said this includes the recent
acquittal by the Supreme Court of Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung
over charges that he allegedly embezzled Rp 40 billion (US$4.6
million) in state funds.

Meanwhile, J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic
International Studies (CSIS) said the general election should
constitute "a trial by the people" of parties and politicians who
share the blame for the current crisis.

"Voters who are now more selective, clever and honest should
not elect parties that deceive the people and rotten
politicians," Kristiadi said. He added that the reform forces,
which had become fragmented in various parties and state
institutions, "should consolidate to fight for the national
reform agenda" to counter parties "that are trying to establish
an oligarchy".

Mochtar lambasted the parties for their continuing dominant
role in determining legislative candidates, placing priority on
candidates' ability to raise funds. Parties also benefit from the
weak laws which open the opportunity for money politics.

Although the electorate is skeptical, Kristiadi said, he also
expressed concern over campaigns that stress voting only for
party symbols instead of legislative candidates.

Instead of trying harder to attract people to dialogs on the
party platform, Kristiadi said many parties "are using money to
buy votes".

Kristiadi added that calls from the party led by R. Hartono, a
former aide of former president Soeharto, to become loyalists
(antek) again, were an insult to the people.

"Nobody wants to be antek of Soeharto," he said, explaining
that the Javanese word meant slave or one level beneath a slave.

A number of parties including that of Hartono and Soeharto's
daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, the Concern for the Nation
Functional Party (PKPB), are eyeing votes from people who may
think that life was better under Soeharto than the current
government.

But the analysts agreed that without consolidation among pro-
reform forces, the New Order forces might well win despite public
skepticism. Such consolidation would be crucial to win the 2009
elections, they said.