Lack of Party Cadres in Jakarta Election Reflects Party`s Failure

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Science Institute’s (LIPI) researcher Syamsuddin Harris viewed that a lack of political party cadres running as candidates in the 2017 Gubernatorial Election reflect political parties’ failure in producing qualified cadres.

“The three candidates-to-be [of the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election] are not from political parties,” Haris said in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 27, 2016.

Earlier, the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) announced its support for incumbent candidate Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, although the party held a selection to determine a candidate to be endorsed. Four other parties under the Cikeas Coalition: Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), and the United Development Party (PPP), decided to pair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who previously served the military, with Sylviana Murni, who served as a civil servant at the Jakarta administration.

In addition, two other parties under the Kertanegara coalition: the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), announced their endorsement for former Education and Culture Minister, who is not a party member.

According to Haris, the cause of the failure is that political parties prefer instantaneous candidates. He explained that grooming cadres to be favorable candidates would take time, as they are required to follow a long career path as political party members.

As a result, Haris argued that public could not clearly understand promises to be delivered by the candidates-to-be, particularly Agus and Anies. For instance, he said that there were candidates who pledged to make Jakarta better.

“But anyone can say that. What we need is alternative policies to achieve a better, more prosperous, safer and more comfortable Jakarta,” Haris explained.

FRISKI RIANA