The latest pre-election buzzphrase is 'caleg bermasalah' - legislative candidates with problems. These range from using forged documents to bypass the requirements to stand for election to committing crimes.
According to Indonesian TV station SCTV in a report from 15 October, problems include alleged involvement in crimes (including corruption), faking hospital statements of good health and registering more than once. And that's just from Riau province. The next day, Kompas newspaper reported that in Banyumas, Central Java, the local office of the General Election Commission (KPU) received 14 complaints from the public alleging candidates were involved in mischief including corruption and drug abuse.
On 20 October, news portal detik.com reported that the KPU had received 162 reports of problem candidates, with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, led by former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, leading the pack with 26 reports followed by the People's Conscience Party, led by UN-indicted former general Wiranto, with 22. By 21 October this figure had risen to 253, according to a KPU official who went on to say that of these, 13 were involved in legal cases, 13 more faked their academic credentials and a further 43 were suspected of corruption.
However, things do get done. The South Sulawesi KPU has since removed 13 candidates from the list - three were thrown off (one for being nominated by two different parties in two different areas, one for being a civil servant and one for being nominated in two different areas), and 10 resigned. The KPU helpfully explained that being a drinker, stealing electricity or having more than one wife could be used as reasons for throwing people off the list, and that it is investigating cases of apparent fakery of graduation certificates.
STOP PRESS: Detik.com has just reported that Sukmawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's founding president, faked her high school graduation certificate to allow her to stand for election. She has since resigned her candidacy to "concentrate on managing her party", meaning the KPU will not go ahead with its plan to report her to the police...
STOP PRESS: The General Elections Commission announced on 28 October that it was removing 72 candidates from the list. 66 of these resigned of their own accord, four were suspected of faking their academic credentials and two turned out be be civil servants. A total of nine candidates have been put forward to replace them.
Saturday 25 October 2008
Sunday 12 October 2008
Youth
The issue of the moment: it's time for a young leader. Most of the candidates for the presidency are no longer in the first flush of youth. The incumbent, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is 59; his vice-president, Jusuf Kalla, is 66; former president Megawati Sukarnoputri is 61, as is UN-indicted former general Wiranto. Older still are the sultan of Yogykarta at 62 and former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso at 64. Disgraced former general Prabowo is bringing up the rear at a mere 58.
So, goes the cry, it's time to give the youth a chance. This may be reinforced by the fact that most of the aforementioned candidates stood in 2004, giving the impression that they are closing the door on the next generation.
Any young candidates? Well, there is Soetrisno Bachir - a mere adolescent of 51 and Hidayat Nur Wahid is 48. And the candidate who is shouting loudest for a chance for the young: Rizal Mallarangeng (44), who was apparently inspired by Barrack Obama's appeal among the younger generation.
So what do the older generation say when this issue is raised. Well, it's all rather awkward. You see they have spent lots of time (and money?) to get where they are, and are not about to give way to a bunch of whippersnappers. They give coy replies about experience (er... Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, was 45 when he came to office and Suharto was 46) and then say they'll wait until after the legislative elections. They may deign to run with a youthful vice-president, but like naughty children, we will have to wait and see.
So, goes the cry, it's time to give the youth a chance. This may be reinforced by the fact that most of the aforementioned candidates stood in 2004, giving the impression that they are closing the door on the next generation.
Any young candidates? Well, there is Soetrisno Bachir - a mere adolescent of 51 and Hidayat Nur Wahid is 48. And the candidate who is shouting loudest for a chance for the young: Rizal Mallarangeng (44), who was apparently inspired by Barrack Obama's appeal among the younger generation.
So what do the older generation say when this issue is raised. Well, it's all rather awkward. You see they have spent lots of time (and money?) to get where they are, and are not about to give way to a bunch of whippersnappers. They give coy replies about experience (er... Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, was 45 when he came to office and Suharto was 46) and then say they'll wait until after the legislative elections. They may deign to run with a youthful vice-president, but like naughty children, we will have to wait and see.
Friday 3 October 2008
Numbers...numbers...
It's all about numbers, as the latest bout of fun and games shows.
Firstly, some members of the legislature (DPR) want to revise Law No. 10/2008 on Elections. The problem is that at the moment the order of candidates on the ballot paper will play a major role in determining who is awarded the seats won by the parties. Now some legislators want the seat to go to the candidate with most votes (what an extraordinary idea). This will probably be opposed by those people who have got themselves at the top of the list, by fair means or foul...
And President SBY's Democratic Party seem to be in breach of article 54 of Law No.10/2008, which states that the maximum number of candidates shall be no more than 120% of seats in the legisalture. Kompas newspaper (3/10/08) and General Election Commission (KPU) member Endang Sulastri seem to be a touch confused. According to Kompas, the Democratic Party has 673 candidates, which many people who say that "the maximum number is 120 percent of the totla number of DPR seats (550), namely 672 people."
Step forward Endang, who says "...we have registered and counted 120 percent of the seats in each electoral region [constituency] and the result is 675 candidates, not 120 percent of 550 DPR seats."
A quick check on the calculator shows that 672 is 120 percent of 560, not 550. Why? Because article 21 of Law No. 20/2008 fixes the number of DPR seats at "560 (five hundred and sixty)".
So can "Kompas" and the KPU a) not count or b) not read?
Firstly, some members of the legislature (DPR) want to revise Law No. 10/2008 on Elections. The problem is that at the moment the order of candidates on the ballot paper will play a major role in determining who is awarded the seats won by the parties. Now some legislators want the seat to go to the candidate with most votes (what an extraordinary idea). This will probably be opposed by those people who have got themselves at the top of the list, by fair means or foul...
And President SBY's Democratic Party seem to be in breach of article 54 of Law No.10/2008, which states that the maximum number of candidates shall be no more than 120% of seats in the legisalture. Kompas newspaper (3/10/08) and General Election Commission (KPU) member Endang Sulastri seem to be a touch confused. According to Kompas, the Democratic Party has 673 candidates, which many people who say that "the maximum number is 120 percent of the totla number of DPR seats (550), namely 672 people."
Step forward Endang, who says "...we have registered and counted 120 percent of the seats in each electoral region [constituency] and the result is 675 candidates, not 120 percent of 550 DPR seats."
A quick check on the calculator shows that 672 is 120 percent of 560, not 550. Why? Because article 21 of Law No. 20/2008 fixes the number of DPR seats at "560 (five hundred and sixty)".
So can "Kompas" and the KPU a) not count or b) not read?
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