THE ELECTIONS OR THAT’S ONLY YOUR BUSINESS

Indonesia since 1999, held five years special event that embarked the rule of democracy in Indonesia, called general election (Pemilihan Umum). Some of the political figure, as well as foreign observer called for appreciations for Indonesia achievement in democratising the country after ruled by authoritarian regime almost three decades long. After reformasi 1998, the general election has being held two times, in 1999 and 2004.

Specially noted, beside general elections, since 2004 Indonesia also experiencing the newly Pilkada (district election) in all of the regions in Indonesia, which is seeking to establish the democratic tradition with empowering the local government, rather centralised power in Jakarta. The series of pilkada that held since June 2005 until January 2009, has been highly praised as further step consolidating civilian rule in running the country.

Despite some dispute, like in North Maluku, and newly East Java, the most crowded regions, seems like the order of law has been strongly established in Indonesia, thanks to Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi) which is deeply respected by Indonesian politician. Entering the 2009, the enigma (Vedi Hadiz called it) of Indonesian democracy called for one more time approvement.






Whether Indonesia already moved into new direction, or just standing still in same oligarchic tradition, the contender from familiar face tells the whole story. The participant in Indonesia political fiesta 2009 remains in high numbers, with 42 political parties. In contrast, this is a backward step through institutionalist design who looking to limit the amount of political parties that competing in general elections, looking back that only 24 parties in 2004 ballot. As the fundamental problems of high numbers of parties, another fascinating issue has raised, eventually from the newly contender. Actually, the old face, retired military general who exercised great powers in Suharto era, back in terms with highly-polished performance. Wiranto, and Prabowo Subianto, two prominent members of soldiers in the last days of Soeharto, ten years ago, founded their own political vehicle. Wiranto using the name “Hati Nurani Rakyat”, while Prabowo who already divorced with Suharto daughters, called “Gerakan Indonesia Raya” as his jargon. Especially for Prabowo, who advertising sporadically in television, begin to capture attention from Indonesia audience.



Meanwhile, potential for rejecting the elections becoming major concern, just like “golput” in seventies, some people argued that “we all already sick about politics!”. The rampant corruption, sex scandals, proposed law that hurried, many absence in meeting, who publicized highly in media, making people indicate that they tired to expecting welfare to come. As the campaign period has begun since 2008, the figures now more dramatic; a lot of strange face appear in public sphere with no esthetics at all. The smiling face, silly face, heroic face, all called for people support to vote for him or her in the upcoming elections. Not surprisingly, many commentator argue this sporadic “face campaign” for legislative election is highly caused by decision from Constitutional Court, which firmly cancelled the deal in election law about elected legislative is based on number row (nomor urut), and agree that legislative candidate must win the seats because of the highest vote from voters (suara terbanyak).

This shocking decision seems ruined highly expectation candidate who thinks that sitting in top row will automatically granted they the seats in parliament. So, in a campaign period for legislative election 9 April 2009, city anywhere Indonesia is polluted by pamflet, billboard, banner from the legislative candidate. The manner of their strategic political marketing who didn’t give any respect to city layout, became a favorite jokes from public in many opportunities, dominated in television news, news website, even magazine and newspaper, giving their same concern, that “face campaign” making Indonesia more disorganized (semrawut) than ever before.

To conclude this article, Indonesia as a newly democratic countries, just aged 11 years after “Reformasi” who promote democratic ways to govern the nation, is choosing popular mandate will be the rather than representative democracy that practiced in Orde Baru (New Order) era. In wake of this, the rise of multiparty and legislative candidate newly introduced to Indonesian politics. Voters who didn’t have any experience choosing their representatives in Orde Baru, seemed in high nerve facing the new election system. Not only the voters, the candidate is awesomly been confused in this new election system. They simply don’t have any idea what is to be done to attract sympathy from potential voters, so they make quick decision, to waste the money as much as possible!

Make the shirt, billboard, banner, with their face and name on it. This dispute reality making most people seems annoyed, because democracy in their perception became complex mechanism and in every detail of it, the devil raise in very unsympathetic ways. This can be explained mainly as a unprepared candidate, that looked political seats in parliament as a stage for getting easy job and highly payed. In newly democratic country like Indonesia, with many social problem hardly resolved like the high unemployment rate, every chances to making money easily became favorites. In the legislative candidate, one of them even is a pengamen jalanan (singing beggar). Finally, this dull face of Indonesian politics probably leads us to tough argument, there is something isn’t working in Indonesian democracy, it is long, confusing, complex, and truly expensive ones.