Wide gap blamed for govt's indifference to public opinion
Wide gap blamed for govt's indifference to public opinion
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Analysts blamed on Friday the widening political gap between the
powerholders and their constituents for the government's seeming
disregard for public opinion and the what the people really
wanted.
They said President Megawati Soekarnoputri had maintained the
outdated leadership style and attitude to democracy that
characterized former authoritarian president Soeharto's New Order
regime.
"The old leadership style is still alive and well along with
the New Order's tradition of a closed government culture,"
political analyst Denny J.A. told The Jakarta Post.
Megawati's government and her Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) have been staunchly criticized for
opting for unpopular policies that are often at odds with public
opinion on numerous contentious issues.
Such unpopular policies include Megawati's order to her
party's legislators to reject an inquiry by the House of
Representatives into a Rp 40 billion scandal in the National
Logistics Agency (Bulog) that implicates House Speaker and Golkar
Chairman Akbar Tandjung.
Megawati also sparked strong criticism when she ordered her
party to support the reelection of Jakarta's Governor Sutiyoso
for a second term. Sutiyoso has been implicated in the July 27,
1996, violent takeover of the PDI Headquarters in Jakarta from
Megawati's supporters.
Another example of Megawati's apparent indifference to public
opinion is her government's plan to impose a state of civil
emergency, or even martial law, in restive Aceh.
Local people, including the province's governor, Muslim
clerics and human rights activists, have opposed the plan,
demanding instead that the government revive its plans for all-
inclusive talks with the Acehnese to end decades of separatist
fighting.
Deny said the government's indifference stemmed from the
increasing gap between the members of the political elite and
their constituents.
"So far they (the elite) feel secure in their positions as
they have never been punished by public opinion," he explained.
He said that to change the unscrupulous behavior of the elite
would take several general elections in which the public could
punish the politicians by voting against them.
"So far they are still not aware of the importance public
opinion will have in the future," he added.
Noted sociologist Imam Prasodjo concurred and said that the
government's disregard for public opinion should encourage the
nation to reconsider the political selection system so as to tilt
it in favor of the public at large.
He called for a review of the system in a bid to ensure that
the political elite would listen to their constituents' views.
"The current political structure does not permit the
cultivation of figures who are sensitive and responsive to what
has been happening within society," he told the Post separately.
"Apart from that, the current powerholders are not figures who
are familiar with democracy," he added.
Imam said the communications mechanism between politicians and
their constituents should also be further developed to intensify
public dialog.
"The President, ministers and other government officials must
not evade journalists wanting to interview them, and must be
comfortable in facing the press," he said.
He told legislators to emulate the United States' town meeting
approach so as to keep in touch with constituents at the
grassroots level, even when the legislature was in recess.