Bandung – University students are often regarded as future leaders but they are jaded in the face of the political climate in the lead-up to next month's legislative elections, an election observer said over the weekend.

"University students seem to have no spirit this year, whereas many of them were very active and critical in the lead-up to the 2004 legislative general elections," national political analyst Arya Bima told a seminar on political education at the Bandung Institute of Technology, or ITB.

Arya Bima said at the seminar, themed "Indonesia in the Future," that he was critical of the silent attitude of university students who he said should be active future assets of the nation.

The lack of student participation in politics could be caused by two things, Arya said. First, he said, students these days are hedonistic and pragmatic individuals, so any concerns about politics have faded away. Second, he added, was that students may have been contaminated by the forces of political parties.

"Many political parties have given certain facilities to university students. Because of this, the students become passive and are afraid of criticizing the parties," Arya said.

The students should play a more active role as distributors of information on this year's election to the ordinary people, he said. "There are many legislative candidates trying to grab legislative seats, but information on them is inadequate," Arya said.

Students could help by holding meetings with candidates in discussion forums. (Antara)