The election that is ‘slipping away’ Melli Darsa  ;   A lawyer in Jakarta, President of the Alumni Association of the University of Indonesia’s Law School (ILUNI FHUI)

JAKARTA POST,  01 Juni 2014

                                                

                                                                                         

                                                      

I was one of the happiest Indonesians when Soeharto finally stepped down 16 years ago. It was not due to a lack of gratitude for what I had enjoyed as the daughter of a career diplomat, who had served most of his career under Soeharto’s rule. That Soeharto finally left office, amid a devastating regional financial crisis, paved the way for true democracy, transparency and good governance in Indonesia. Indeed, we can proudly say that Indonesia now is one of the most vibrant democracies in the world. This is not a small achievement for a country with such a long history of being subject to dictatorship. Nevertheless, despite the presence of institutions and commissions like the Constitutional Court, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Judicial Commission and the General Elections Commission (KPU), it seems the country is still in disarray. The judiciary continues to be an embarrassment, affordable education and health care remain non-existent, while traffic congestion and a lack of infrastructure continue to affect our efficiency and effectiveness. Meanwhile, living in the nation’s capital is as expensive as some of the best cities in the world. No wonder that some of those who lived during Soeharto’s era actually miss the time when Indonesia had virtually no freedom of the press, association or speech. Looking at our neighbor, Singapore, what we need is a strong, visionary leader who can rule without interruption and put the economy at the top of the agenda. We need someone who not is only is willing to provide the best education to all, but is also committed to the rule of law to strengthen the nation. However, Indonesians voiced their view loudly and clearly when no party achieved the 25 percent legislative threshold in the April election. No single party pleased the average Indonesian. Probably, we feel that the country’s political parties are no more than vehicles to power and tools of occasional narcissism. Meanwhile, political parties and politicians — and even ministerial wannabes — never seem far from corruption. The cost of securing a political seat/position is so expensive that most resort to transacting their way to power. While the people have spoken, we perhaps feel “disenfranchised” and powerless, finding ourselves needing to choose the “best” from those who we never truly liked or even knew until recently. After showing that they did not overwhelmingly favor any political party in particular, the people then ended up having no say in the coalitions that were formed. Some parties even seem to have set their feet in both camps. I believe that the whole electoral process has left most voters confused or apathetic. I was already bemused during the legislative election. But now, for the presidential election, despite my Harvard education and 25 years worth of experience as a lawyer, I am still as bewildered as ever after reading each presidential candidate’s respective platform. Neither candidate offers ready-to-implement programs. Not only will realizing their respective visions and missions require a lot of money, the source of which is unclear, there is also the assumption that the right people will be found in the right place in every instance, as well as a highly supportive legislature and well-functioning government bureaucracy. The fact that there are two very different presidential candidates in the form of Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo running alongside former Cabinet members does not make the choice any easier. Given that neither presidential candidate has been tested for the post, all Indonesians continue to be confused, except perhaps for a small number who may have a vested interest in supporting one or the other. It is the greatest irony that Indonesia in its journey toward democracy now finds itself in this situation. I for one choose to blame the dysfunctional legislature and judiciary, in addition to the poor leadership shown by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the last five years. I will not, however, merely sit by and hope that the 2019 election will be better than this one. I do not want this election to be the “one that got away” and end up being the subject of regret. I know this is a critical moment in Indonesian history, and we Indonesians need to realize that 2019 will never be better unless we as a people all our part, starting now. So, besides casting my vote on July 9, I will try to overcome my own sense of powerless and confusion, and do all I can to make this country better. ●