Jakarta – Political observers have suggested that the country needs direct and open general elections that allow people to choose their own candidates.
Speakers at a discussion at the University of Indonesia on Saturday told the public to scrutinize the background of their preferred candidates for the 2009 general elections.
"To date, the people don't know whom they are voting for because they only chose political parties instead of the candidates," former Golkar leader Akbar Tanjung told the audience.
"Should people vote for politicians directly; the voters will be more objective and the elected candidates will be more accountable and closer to their constituents."
Akbar also warned politicians not to underestimate the electorate, saying they were not stupid.
Syafii Maarif, former chairman of Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, agreed with Akbar, saying: "People with a sound mind can tell the essence of political parties and what's better for them."
Revisions to the general elections law were needed to allow direct elections, said Boni Hargens, a political science lecturer at the university.
"Current law on general elections authorizes political parties to determine the sequence on a list of running candidates fielded for the general elections," he said.
"Under this scheme, potential candidates tighten their relationships with party leaders, while they ignore the people's voice," Akbar added.
The speakers also said that the current procedures had caused the politicians to become "immoral". "Today, many politicians are boosting their fortunes with their political power," Boni said.
Akbar said many contemporary politicians simply aimed to amass power in any way, "including immoral ones" and that such practices had degraded their moral legitimacy.
"Those politicians must uphold idealism if we want the hazy current political ambience to become transparent," said Syafii.
"Idealists are not necessarily poor people, as long as they utilize their political will for the people," he added.
"They have to have strong idealism for the sake of the people when contesting the elections," Akbar added.