0 Editorial: Shortcut recruitment

The general elections – legislative election in April 2014 and presidential election in July 2014 — are more than a year away, but already we see political parties’ electoral machinery aggressively preparing for the five-yearly political feast. Unfortunately, instead of working on long-term cadre recruitment and a solid internal career development system, many are busy pursuing “popular” names and faces to jump into their bandwagons. A number of celebrities have either voiced interest or have been approached by political parties to stand as their legislative candidates in the 2014 election. 

Actors and presenters such as Hengky Kurniawan, Raffi Ahmad, Nico Siahaan and Sony Tulung and singer Edo Kondologit are among those tipped to be legislative candidates representing some of the 10 political parties eligible to contest the 2014 elections. Excluding, of course, those already part of the 2009-2014 House of Representatives (DPR) membership, such as comedians Deddy “Miing” Gumelar, Eko Patrio and Komar; models Okky Asokawati, Inggrid Kansil and Vena Melinda; actor Primus Yustisio; actresses Nurul Arifin, Rieke Diah Pitaloka and Rachel Maryam; TV presenter Tantowi Yahya; and singer Theresia “Tere” Pardede. 

The recruitment of celebrities to enliven and attract voters is not only a political phenomenon of the post-1998 reformasi era. Such practice was also rife during the New Order. People may still remember top crowd-gatherer dangdut singer Rhoma Irama and the late Muslim preacher Zainuddin M Z, who campaigned for the United Development Party (PPP). The PPP managed to win votes in Jakarta during the 1977 general elections thanks to their involvement in its campaign, a serious and heavy blow to Golkar, the ruling party at that time. A number of celebrities were recruited as members of the DPR in the New Order era. 

The only difference being, as voters voted for political parties and not individuals, is the celebrities were appointed by their respective political parties rather than elected as DPR members. Apart from the recruitment of celebrities, a number of political parties are also opening DPR membership recruitment to the general public. Several, such as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), have made the offer via the regular channels, such as press conferences and statements published at media outlets. Others, like the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), have published advertisements in a number of national publications. 

The newcomer in the 2014 elections, the National Democrat Party (NasDem), has gone even further — offering Rp 10 billion (US$1.01 million) per electorate as an incentive for those interested in running with NasDem tickets. There will be 77 electorates nationwide for the 2014 elections. All the above measures — recruiting celebrities, recruitment offers in media outlets and advertisements and financial incentives — on one side are legal. However, they also conspicuously display the parties’ failures in establishing solid recruitment and career development systems for its members. 

This practice of an instant, shortcut political recruitment system will create “leafhoppers” in politics, which will influence the general public’s perception of the candidates and the political parties they represent. If such practices continue uninterrupted, it is feared that one day the general elections — which is believed to be a supreme and democratic process to elect state leaders and parliamentarians — will lose its “sacred” meaning and be abandoned by the people.

source : the jakarta post