Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The faces of celebrities will likely continue to fill the House of Representatives after the 2014 polls as political parties rush to recruit local actors, models and singers as their legislative candidates.
The parties have to work fast as they are required by the General Elections Commission (KPU) to submit their legislative candidates' shortlists in April.
The National Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) have already confirmed their choice of celebrities.
PAN executive Bima Arya Sugiarto said on Thursday that celebrity couple Ikang Fauzi and Marissa Haque would become the party's representatives at the House. Marissa, a popular actress in the 1980s, was an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker between 2004 and 2009. Her rock star husband Ikang, ran for office as a lawmaker in the 2009 polls and for South Lampung deputy regent in 2010, but the two bids failed.
"We are still speaking to some celebrities and will only recruit those that show a strong commitment. We don't want celebrities who will burden us," Bima told The Jakarta Post. PAN is still in talks with several soap-opera stars, including Dessy Ratnasari, Raffi Ahmad and Henky Kurniawan.
PDI-P secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo said that singer Edo Kondologit, senior actress Yessy Gusman and presenters Nico Siahaan and Sony Tulung would be joining the party's selection process.
"Edo is on the priority list because he is a member of the party and a former legislative candidate in 2009 [...] Yessy has been active in the party's central board," Tjahjo said.
Gerindra is eyeing actress and writer Happy Salma and actor Irwansyah. Gerindra deputy chairman Fadli Zon said they expected celebrities to be good lawmakers and not just "vote-getters".
"It is true that popularity will help them win. However, what we [are interested in] is their performance after winning seats. They have to defend people's rights and make good policies," he said on Wednesday.
When asked if she has political aspirations, Happy was hesitant to say yes, but said that she admired Gerindra. "Gerindra is a new party that steals attention. It is aggressive and quite solid [...] We [both] have a vision to fight for the nation's improvement," she told the Post on Tuesday.
Happy – who is married to Ubud prince Tjokorda Bagus Dwi Santana Kertayasa – also said that her family would support any decision she might take.
The ruling Democratic Party, Golkar and the United Development Party (PPP) have also opened their doors to celebrities but have not revealed the names.
The recruitment of celebrities as lawmakers has not always been successful. In May 2012, the House of Representatives' ethics council warned comedian-turned-legislator Eko Hendro Purnomo, or Eko Patrio, of PAN over his frequent appearances on television.
In the following month, Democratic Party lawmaker Theresia "Tere" Pardede resigned to take care of her aging father and finish her master's thesis.
The latest study by political consultant firm politicawave.com showed that as a result of celebrity recruitment social media users perceived PAN negatively, mocking the party's abbreviation as Partai Artis Nasional (The National Celebrities Party).
Political analyst Yunarto Wijaya of the Charta Politika think tank reminded political parties not to give special treatment to celebrities as it could trigger jealousy among their cadres. "The parties should undertake a fair assessment when selecting legislative candidates, choosing devoted members over celebrities," he said.
Yunarto suggested political parties should give intensive political training to the chosen celebrities in preparation for next year's election. "A one year education in politics might be possible. However, it is hard to build a political career in just one year," he said. (yps)