General Election to Seek Leaders, Not Celebrities: Politician

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fahri Hamzah, Gelora Party deputy chairman and former Deputy Speaker of the House (DPR), on Monday said general elections should be the momentum to seek leaders as opposed to celebrities. He criticized most current candidates as people who compete with their attributes instead of ideas. 

He added that general elections are not an opportunity to cast votes for popular and wealthy people.

He also urged the General Elections Committee (KPU) and the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to prepare for potential money politics. 

“Pemilu should stop being a fraudulent event. We want to look for leaders and not celebrities,” he said on June 13. 

In principle, said Fahri, KPU must regulate the battle of ideas of electoral participants that would better serve the public and help them decide between available candidates. 

“What we are looking for is a person who can explain their ideas and plans to solve problems in the country,” he added. 

Prior to his statement, Fahri Hamzah slammed the 75-day campaign period agreed upon by members of the House (DPR), KPU, and the government, which he believed should be held a whole full year to better reach and educate people in general. 

FAIZ ZAKI

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