Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia lacks strong, respected leaders who can guide it out of the current political and economic crises, according to the findings of a recent survey.
The latest poll, done by the Centre for the Study of Development and Democracy (Cesda), said 42 per cent of respondents are disillusioned with the government and those holding the country's four highest political offices.
Only 28 per cent think President Megawati Sukarnoputri deserves to keep her job.
Dr Amien Rais, head of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and speaker of top legislative assembly MPR, received only 15 per cent support.
Trailing the two is Vice-President Hamzah Haz, head of the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), with 6 per cent of the vote. At the tailspot is Speaker Akbar Tandjung, the Golkar party chief who was convicted of graft but is keeping his job while lawyers file an appeal, with 2 per cent.
Cesda researcher E. Shobirin Nadj said: "The results clearly indicate a national leadership crisis. The people find it difficult to put their faith in any one figure. Our politicians face a legitimacy problem, at least among the urban populations."
The survey was conducted in September in 10 major cities throughout Indonesia and covered 1,250 voting age respondents from across the social strata.
Other findings were that 36 per cent of respondents felt there is no one fit to govern the country at this time. Another 9 per cent would support the presidential candidacy of Security and Political Affairs Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Cesda's survey is just the latest of many similar polls this year, and the results consistently show declining confidence in the government.
Dr Raden Pardede, chief economist at Danareksa Research Institute, said his agency's monthly surveys show that Indonesians do not much like their leaders.
"Consumers feel that the government can't provide economic growth or build public infrastructure. The business community also has less trust and confidence." As a result, domestic companies do not make new investments and foreign firms continue to avoid putting their money here.
Consultant Bara Hasibuan, who quit a job with Dr Amien's PAN, said leaders focus too much on politics and too little on solving problems.
He argued: "Indonesians are fed up with the existing political elite. We need a new type of leadership and political system. Polls over the past few months hand down the same verdict – people feel a huge gap between them and the present batch of leaders." This disenchantment leaves openings for aspiring politicians, some of whom have started new political parties within the last six months.
Mr Andi Mallarangeng, a leader of the new Unity, Democracy and Nationhood Party, said: "We offer a new leadership, one that will be more in touch with the people"s needs.' But observers doubt the new parties would get many votes in the coming elections, showing how deep the political disgust level has become.