Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – With history showing many cases of leaders who failed to groom quality successors among their kin, the recruitment of legislative candidates through bloodlines has raised concern over future legislative bodies.
Observers and experts insist that the tendency of party leaders to select candidates based on family connections over proven track records will further erode the strength and image of the much-criticized House.
In expressing his doubts that political leaders' family members have what it takes to become good politicians, executive director of the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) Hadar N. Gumay warned the appointment was counterproductive to the political system.
"Lawmakers need to have specific skills in legislation, budgeting, negotiation and mastery of issues. I notice that most of candidates chosen because of their fathers or husbands have neither adequate experience nor skills. How can they perform their duty?" Hadar said.
The number of family members of party leaders and figures contesting the 2009 elections far exceeds previous levels.
Hanura Party nominated the wife of its chairman Wiranto, Uga Wiranto, as a candidate for Gorontalo electoral district, while co-founder of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais had his son Ahmad Mumtaz named to run in Cilacap electoral district.
The United Development Party (PPP) listed Nur Agus Haz and Musa Ikhwansyah, respectively a son and son-in-law of former party chairman Hamzah Haz, to its legislative candidates list.
Several senior Golkar Party politicians, such as Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, House Speaker Agung Laksono and Theo Sambuaga, let their children fill in their shoes at the House.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) nominated Puan Maharani, daughter of the party's leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, to run for a legislative seat in Central Java, while Guntur Soekarnoputra's daughter Putri Paundrianagari and Sabam Sirait's son Maruarar Sirait will vie for the legislative posts.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is no exception. His youngest son Edhie Baskoro will represent the Democratic Party (PD) in the elections.
Saying it was natural for party leaders to rely on their immediate kin in gripping power, political scientist Notrida Mandica argued that nepotism was not necessarily harmful if candidates were up to the task. Executive director of Indo Barometer research center Mohammad Qodari said there should be no worries about nepotism as long as advancement was based on merit.
"But we have seen in history that nepotism has outshone capabilities. That's why the parties must fix the recruitment process if they want strong figures," he said.