Discussion on Neo-Liberalism Policy, Left and Right

The era of Neo-Liberalism Policy apparently had ended. Market force is no longer assumed as sacred and always right. In a meeting at Toulose, French President Sarkozy declared: "The thought about market force as super-force that cannot be defeated by whatever regulations and political intervention was a mad idea".

Prime Minister of Australia from Labour Party, wrote an essay in "The Monthly" magazine earlier this year: "The global current economic crisis is the peak of the "Neo-Liberalism" policy that had been used as a guideline of many governments since 1978". Mr. Rudd now replaced that policy with a new policy called "Social-Democratic Capitalism".

Mr. Rudd promised the active Government role in controlling the economy, eventhough he still keep the policy of "Open Market" for Australia.

The world is now replaying the situation of the year 1920's. In 1926 John Maynard Keynes wrote "The End of Laissez-faire" and showed how productive was capitalism if it was managed, not let run freely. Not long after, America and Europe tried to combine the dynamics of capitalism with smart mananagement of technocrates, a new economic policy popularly called "Keynesian Collaboration".

Well-known economist Joseph E. Stitglitz queried if we are now imomplementing the "Keynesian collaboration", for seeing from the USA to Indonesia - the change in the traditional economic policy by increasing the role of Governments in controlling the economy, such as providing public funding for "economic stimulus package" to stimulate the country's economic growth.

Vice Presidential candidate that strongly critisized the Neo-Liberalism Policy is Mr. Prabowo Subianto, who declared that Indonesia should discard this Neo-Leberal economic policy and replaced it with the new "Peoples-oriented Economic Policy". With this new policy, he assured that Indonesian economic growth can be increased to a double-digit growth to bring prosperity to the wjole people of Indonesia.

TV Discussion by three Indonesian economic practitioners

An Economic Discussion Forum was held on Sunday night, May 17, 2009 on how best to manage the Indonesian Economy for the next five years to be adopted by the winner of the coming Presidential Election on July 9, 2009. Three economic practicioners were present, namely Mr. AS Dillon, and two former Indonesian Ministers, Mr. Siswono Yudhohusodo and Mr. Rizal Ramly. The following is the summary of the discussion:

• A good government leader is the one who works hard to promote the interests of the people of Indonesia, and not his personal interests, his group or the interests of foreign entities.
• According the US National Intelligence Committee (NIC) there are five countries that have future development, namely China, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil. However, Indonesia with its large natural resources may not be successful because its leaders were not wise and had a changing economic policies.
• We need to have a clean Government that have responsible economic policies.
• We need to create a new economic policy that defends the interests of the majority of the Indonesian people, such as in the management of the natural resources, and the exploration of them to the benefit of the Indonesian people, and not for the benefit of foreign investors.
• We need to create Indonesia that has self-confidence and able to manage its natural resources, not depending on foreign experts.
• We need to create a wealth of jobs for providing welfare to the people of Indonesia.
• The future Government of Indonesia should be able to stabilize basic needs prices for creating welfare and security for the people of Indonesia.
• The Goverment of Indonesia should provide sufficient health care budget, so as to make Indonesian people healthy and strong to be more productive.
• There is a need to control the Indonesian population growth, so that the welfare of the people would not be degraded by the lack of foods.

Many Legislative Candidates who failed the election got stressed and committed suicide

• Several Legislative Candidates died of shock for failing to win the Election.
• One failed candidate took back a carpet he donated to a local mosque, because no support from his neighbors.
  
• Another failed candidate from South Sulawesi Province closed a village road passing a land donated by his Grandfather.
• Artist Diah Pitaloka (si Oneng) got more votes than PDIP's Chief Adviser Taufik Kiemas in West Java election region.
  
• Artist Wanda Hamidah and Actor Mandra got more votes than Golkar's Deputy Leader Agung Laksono in Jakarta Province election region.
  
• Moslem Mullah H. Ujang Hambali from Cirebon was reported to try to cure stress deseases of 21 Legislative Candidates who failed the election, 10 had heavy stress desease, one candidate became mad. The occupations of those candidetes range from businessman, local government executives, and some are unemployed.
• The failed Legislative Candidates became stressed because the felt being cheated by their Success Teams. The had spent millions of Rupiah for paying campaign expenses, such as making campaign billboards, ballyhoo, shirts, and campaign rallies.
  
• One failed Legislative Candidate from Ciamis, West Java committed suicide by hanging himself because of heavy stress desease.

Quick Count Result of Legislative Election: Partai Demokrat leads

• From a sample of Quick Count of 2.100, number of polling stations that was successfully recorded was 2.092 (99.6%).
• There were 4 polling stations not observed: East Flores Regency and Lembata Regency because of religious holiday. Election will be conducted on April 14, 2009.
  
• Four other polling stations in Papua Province were not observed because of difficult terrain and comminal conflict.lainnya berasal dari Provinsi Papua.
  
• The following was the result of the Quick Count of the Indonesian Survey Institute:

University of Indonesia's Opinion Survey

The University of Indonesia conducted an Opinion Survey that resulted the following:

1. PDIP = 19,60%
2. Partai Demokrat = 19,18%
3. Partai GOLKAR = 18,25%
4. PKS = 8,78%
5. PPP = 3,50%
6. Gerindra = 2,46%
7. PAN = 2,18%
8. PKB = 1,57%
9. Hanura = 1,35%
10. PBB = 0,35%
11. PDS = 0,19%
12. Abstained, No Vote = 35% - 40%

Maia Estianty campaigning for Gerindra’s Presidential Candidate Prabowo

Leader of a lady band “Ratu” Maia Estianty had joined the campaign team of the Gerindra Party with Mr. Prabowo Subianto as their Presidential Candidate for July 2009 Election. She said that she joined the campaign team because believe in Gerindra cause and programs, and because the presidential candidate is attractive and handsome. She was often seen going together with the Presidential Candidate during the Gerindra campaign in Surabaya, Semarang, Manado, Maluku and Papua.

During the Gerindra campaign in Bandung yesterday, Mr. Prabowo Subianto was accompanied by artists Diva and Rachel Maryam who was a Legislative Rep candidate for West Java region II.

Dangdut singers Meggi and Jaja Miharja were also present.

In the mean time, a Grand Kampaign of Geridra was held today at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, attended by red-capped military-style supporters and including goats in a parade of supporters to greet the Gerindra Leader Prabowo Subianto.

Other participants from the general public were also present at the ceremony to enlive the parade. Representatives of peasants and fishermen also took part in the Gerindra parade.

Leadership, Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Programs

With Election Polling Day of April 9, 2009 is nearing, many people are still wondering whos Party or Legislative Candidate or Presidential Candidate will be his or her best choice. In order to assist the undecided voters, we would like to give a short advise about their best choice:

1. Leadership: Who can be called a Leader? A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.

2. Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Programs:

A leader must have a good future view or a dream or a vision of the country that he/she is leading: A just, prosperous and democratic country of Indonesia, which would provide good employment for all of the people, sufficient salary to pay for monthly living needs, peace and welfare for all of the people of Indonesia.

In order to realize his/her vision, he/she must be able to express clearly and logically how he/she would like to do when he/she is elected as a Leader through a short term statements of Mission, Objectives, Strategy and programs. These statements are very important for all of the people to understand and follow up during his/her term as a Leader of the country. People can also see if these statements are realizable or not, or just empty slogans to please the voters.

Strategy statement is an explanation of how he/she would achieve the mission and objectives which he/she has made, through a clear, logical, clever, creative and strategic way that can be realized in practice.

Programs are the details of his/her main programs which he/she will execute for the duration of his/her term as a Leader of the country.

A better way for a good Leader is if he/she could express clearly his/her first 100-days Programs as a clear indication of his/her best and correct choice of the most important actions to be done to significantly impact the improvement to the condition of the country he/she is leading. A good example of the Fiist 100-days Program of a Leader is shown by President Barrack Obama of the USA, whom he had shown to follow it as accurately as possible, and did give an impact to the improvement of the country’s condition.

If any Legislative Candidate has not made the above mentioned statements, then he/she only have a few days left to make it or amend it. However, for a Presidential Candidate, he/she still have exactly three months to make the required statements or to improve or to amend them.

It is interesting to see how the current positioning of Presidentail Candidates as given in the Election Polling on the left.

Whether having the suggested statments of Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Programs could alter the above Election Polling result remain to be seen in three moths time.

We hope the above information will be useful for making your correct decision of our future leaders.

May God bless us all.

Economic Challenges for Presidential Candidates 2009

The Legislative Election is only a few days to come, yet many people still do not know the reason why they should choose one or another party or candidate, because they can only see a few parties’ banners, slogans or promises along the Indonesian road sides. During the past four-and-a-half year of the current government of President SBY and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, people were experiencing risning oil, food, and basic needs prices, growing unemployment, and growing number of poor people. The current Global Financial Crises only added up to the economic problems of Indonesia, causing reduction in export, business trade, rising US Dollar exchange rate and the fall of domestic shares prices.

People are wandering if the results of the current Legilstive Election and Presidential Election could improve the Indonesian economic condition and improve the people’s welfare in general, because only a few candidates could express logically and clearly if they are elected, they will execute economic improvement programs for the country during their five-year rule. Most candidates could only make good promises without any futher explainations.

However, we were lucky to watch a discussion program on “Economic Challenges” a few days ago at Metro-TV, presenting Dr. Pande Raja Silalahi from CSIS and Dr. Hendri Saparini from ECONID. The two speakers were basically expressing the positioning of “established” presidential candidates: SBY, JK and Megawati; and the “alternate” presidential candidates: Wiranto, Probowo and Rizal Ramli.

The economic policy of the “established” presidential candidates in principle is to start with existing economic conditions, and gradually improving without much significant changes to the existing system. They also welcome the foreign investors and foreign role in the development of Indonesia.

On the other hand the economic policy of the “alternate” presidential candidates in principle is to reject foreign domination in the development of Indonesia, and try to use as much as possible local expertise and resources in the development of Indonesia, and to establish self-sufficiency.

The detailed variation of each presidential candidate economic policy is presented as follows:

1. The incumbent President SBY: continue the current economic policy of the current Government, because it was considered to be fairly successful.
2. The incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla: (a). Self-sufficiency in rice production; (b). Increase investment; (c). Develop infrastructures.
3. The former President Megawati: (a). Create cheap supply of basic needs of the people; (b). Create more employments; (c). Improve the welfare of the people.
4. The alternate Presidential candidate Wiranto: (a). Change economic direction so as to be free from foreign influence; (b). Indonesian natural resources is mainly for the benefit of the Indonesian people.
5. The alternate Presidential candidate Prabowo: (a). Create a just and right economic policy to ensure the improvement in economic condition of poor people; (b). Peasants and fishermen to become the economic backbone of Indonesia; (c). Developing Indonesia as one of Asian economic “tigers”; (d). Reject the sale of State-owned Enterprises.
6. The alternate Presidential candidate Rizal Ramli: (a). Nationalization of foreign-owned Indonesian companies; (b). Reject foreign influence in the development of Indonesia; (c). Reject IMF influence.

It is to be noted that the alternate Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is the most communicative candidate, judging from his almost daily appearance in Indonesian television ads, and his most outspoken views of the future Indonesian economic policy. He is the son of the Indonesian economic “Guru” the late Prof. Dr. Sumitro Djoyohadikusumo.

By knowing the summary of each Presidential candidates, we can now decide whose policy is our best choice to realize the long awaited ideals of the people of Indonesia: A just and prosperous country for all people of Indonesia!

Who is your choice? Please have your comments and suggestions

On Day-6 Open Election Campaigning, sitution becoming warmer

Today, Saturday March 21, 2009 the situation on all campaigning locations throughout Indonesia were becoming warmer. Presiden SBY with his wife Any Yudhoyono and son Edi Baskoro ware present at Partai Demokrat (PD) campaign at Captain Japa football field, Padanggalak, Denpasar, Bali. The three sang together campaign song of PD “Sempurna” (Perfect) with a few modification of its lyric:

You are my Protector, You are my Leader, You are my Life, Please complete my Life, Oh my Democrate You are ,,, so Perfect..

The Presiden spoke about the successes of his Government that had been achieved up till today. The Padanggalak area was fully filled with PD supporters. Singer Andra and “The Backbone” musical band were present to support the President’s campaign team. The Team arrived in Bali using a Garuda Indonesia Airlines executive class flight and a chartered aircraft.

In Makassar on the same day, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and his family joined the Golkar campaign for the first time, after his absence from campaign activities of Golkar Party for the first few days. The Vice President said that in order to form a strong government, there should be supports from large political parties. The Golkar Party in Makassar support the candidacy of Jusuf Kalla for the coming Presidential Election on July 9, 2009.

In Central Java Chairwoman of the PDIP Megawati Sukarnoputri attended PGIP campaign at the village of Patalan, Jetis, Bantul near Yogyakarta. She was accompanied by Mr. Theo Syafei, the Regent of Bentul Mr. Idham Samawi and Chirman of PDIP Bantul Mr. Joko Purnomo.She warned again about the manipulation of the Fixed Electors List that could cause the failure of the election. She urged all people to exercise their voting rights and asked them not to join the Non-Voters group, because it would distort the democratic process.

Meanwhile Mr. Muhaimin Iskandar at the Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB) campaign in Subang, West Java was proposed by his supporters to become Presidential Candidate for July 9, 2009 election. He was considered as the most eligible candidate since he is young, smart and popular, and was expected to be able to unwind the complex problems of Indonesia.

In Sunter, Jakarta Partai Gerindra held a campaign attended by Permadi, Rachel Maryam, Halida Hatta and Budi Satrio Djiwandono. Several children were present at the campaign to watch clowns acting at the campaign stage, eventhough the Election rule prevent them from attending campaign.

Prabowo Subianto, the popular Presidential Candidate of Geridra, after discussing the serious errors in Electors List with Megawati Sukarnoputri indicated to propose to delay the 2009 Election to correct errors. However Mr. Fadly Zon, the Deputy Chiaman of Gerindrea said that the election should go ahead as scheduled.

Megawati: BLT degrades people’s and nation’s Dignity

Former President of Indonesia and Chairwoman of the Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDIP) in her open campaign speech in Jember, East Java yesterday, Friday, March 20, 2009 said that the Government Program “Direct Cash Assistance” (BLT) to the people only resulted in lowering the dignity of Indonesian people and the nation, because it forced people to be beggars by lining up on a long and overcrowded rows for just to receive a mere Rp200,000 per perperson for two months.

She accused that this program is only for spending government money, which should be better if it is used to build roads, public water supply or toilet, instead of BLT.

On her 30-minute speech, Megawati reminded about the manipulation in the last East Java Governor/Deputy Governor election that resulted in the defeat of PDI supported candidates. She was afraid of the same case happen during the current Legislative and Presidential election. She advised her supported not to participate in money politics that would affect the outcome of the election.

President SBY made his first campaign at the Gelora Bung Karno Hall

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) patron of the Ruling Party Partai Demokrat (PD) started his political campaign to support his party’s cause for the Legislative Election on April 9, 2009 at Gelora Bung Karno Hall (GBK Hall) today, Friday March 20, 2009 attended by about 50,000 supporters, or about a half of the GBK Hall capacity of 120,000 people.

The President was scheduled to make three 7-minute speeches during today campaign and sang his new campaign song “Sempurna” (Perfect), composed by Andra and sang by “The Backbone” musical band. His previous successful campaign song was “Pelangi di matamu” (Rainbow on your etes). However, the President only gave one 7-minute speech and then left the audience. There was an impression that the President was not happy because the campaign hall was half-fiiled. The President said in his previous Press Conference at his Cikeas residence that he would do campaigning for his PD Party every Friday, Saturday and Sunday till April 5, 2009, the end of open campaigning allowed by the Election Regulator (KPU) for the Legislative Election.

On the same day the Partai Keadilan Bangsa (PKS) held a campaign rally at Blok-S Jakarta on a smaller stadium. The stadium was fully attended by PKS supprters and after the campaign, streets surrounding the area were jammed by the PKS supportes. Chairman of PKS Tifatul Sembiring made his party’s campaign speech.

PUSKAPTIS Survey: PDIP, PD and Golkar were about even, but with 40% Non-Voters

A Survey held by PUSKAPTIS on 16-24 March 2009 involving 1,250 respondents in 33 provinces, 300 cities and 600 villages with a margin of error of 3% and confidence level of 95% resulted in the following:

1. PDIP = 19,60%
2. Partai Demokrat = 19,18%
3. Partai GOLKAR = 18,25%
4. PKS = 8,78%
5. PPP = 3,50%
6. Gerindra = 2,46%
7. PAN = 2,18%
8. PKB = 1,57%
9. Hanura = 1,35%
10. PBB = 0,35%
11. PDS = 0,19%
12. Other Parties and Non-Voters = 35% - 40%

Because this was a sampling survey, the result of the next election on large cities in Java may be different significantly. For example, PKS may obtain a majority vote in Jakarta. Similarly for Gerindra and Hanura, the two "black horse" of the current election may obtain large votes in large cities in Java.

In order to ensure that your vote is accounted, you are welcome to vote in this Blog as provided herewith:

Messianic power and strategies to win 2009 Election

A young schoolboy named Ponari from a small Balongsari village, Jombang regency, East Java had been on the news headlines for more than two months, because he was reported to have a messianic power to heal any disease. This news spread throughout Indonesia in a speed of light. Thousands of people flocked into the little village to obtain a cup of magic water as a medicine, after the boy dipped a magic black stone into the water.

In a few days the medicineboy became a new Indonesian selebrity, the poor villlage turn into a wealthy place because everyone in the village can earn more money to improve their living standards, including the boy and his relatives.

What kind of phenomena is happening in this country? It is caused by the fact that most Indonesian are too poor to afford a normal medication, normal food. Any fast and cheap medication that could heal any disease, such as the one offered by the medicineboy, will attract the attention of many Indonesians.

Relating the above fact of life in Indonesia, the following are tips for candidates to win the Legislative and Presidential election in the coming months:

1. Have an emphaty and symphaty for the poor living condition of majority of the people,
2. Able to provide a strategic and logical plan to alleviate the living standards of the people through down-to-earth programs, not programs which are not rational and difficult to implement,
3. Demonstrate his/her seriousness to improve the poor living condition of the people through real actions, especially during the election campaign period (only one-month left),
   
4. Have a good track record as a leader: honest, just, hardworking for the cause of the people, simple living as a symbol of emphaty for the poor condition of the people, never use his/her position as a leader to make profit for himself/heself, the family and his/her group/party,
5. Accept criticism and willing to take suggestions for improving the welfare of the people of Indonesia, not trying to hide facts about the poor condition of the people,
6. Open and transparent in making any important decision or policy for the benefit of the people, as shown in practice by the current US President Barrack Obama.
7. Never advertise success not based on real facts and figures, because voters know if we are telling the truth or not.

Tifatul Sembiring: Golkar-PKS will be a big Political Power

President of Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS) Tifatul Sembiring said on thursday, February 26, 2009 that cooperation between two large parties Golkar and PKS can form a large and powerful political force. His statement was made after the Chairman of Golkar Jusuf Kalla visited PKS Headquarters in Jakarta last night. During the meeting of the two parties, Jusuf Kalla was paired with former Chairman of PKS Hidayat Nur Wahid as running mates for the coming Presidential Election on July 9, 2009.

Tifatul Sembiring said that so far in the Indonesian political environment there were only two blocks of political force, namely S-Block (referring to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and M-Block (Megawati Sukarnoputri). With the new possible coalition between Golkar and PKS, there will be a new Block of political power that will compete with two others.

Acording to Tifatul Sembiring, Mr. Hidayat Nur Wahid so far is still the PKS candidate for the coming Presidential Election, however, a new cooperation is still open for negotiation between the two parties.

In the meantime, Jusuf Kalla said the his visit to PKS HQ is part of the probing for cooperation between Golkar and other parties. We are conducting a "fit-and-proper test".

In another development, Abdurrahman Wahid, Chairman of Nahdatul Ulama (NU) Supervisory Board and Chief Advisor of Partai Demokrasi Perjuangan (PDIP) Taufik Kiemas had agreed to conduct a "Second Ciganjur Meeting" between NU and PDIP to set up Presidential Election 2009 strategy.

With all Major Parties having their own Presidential Candidate, Hidayat Nur Wahid of PKS to be best choice Vice President

With the announcement of Chairman of Golkar Jusuf Kalla as Golkar's Presidential Candidate in 2009 Election, now every Major Parties will need a Vice Presidential running mate to be able to participate ini the July 2009 Presidential Election because of the requirement for each President/Vice President pair to be supported by 20% Parliamentary Vote support. The only major Party that had not annunce their own PresidentialCandidate is Partai Keadilan Sejahtera or PKS with Mr. Hidayat Nur Wahid as its Party's President.

As we all know that PKS, because of its good performance of its leaders and executives in the current Indonesian Parliament and Government for showing as clean and conducting good Governance, we all expect that in the coming Parliamentary Election on April 9, 2009 PKS will get a large votes of confidence from the people of Indonesia.

Thus whatever major Party who had its own Presidential Candidate for 2009 Presidential Election will have a good chance of winning the Election if they take Mr. Hidayat Nur Wahid of PKS as their Vice Presidential running mate. We will see in the coming weeks how the situation will change as predicted.

Former Indonesia Military Chief Wiranto joined the Presidential Race 2009

Former Indonesian Military Chief Retired General Wiranto had joined the Indonesia Presidential Election to be held in July 2009. In his reasoning for joining the Presidential race is that he felt that it was his duty as a responsible citizen to try to help the nation that is badly in of a new President who will lead the country toward peace and prosperity as had been the ideals of our founding fathers.

Wiranto explianed that he was not hunger for a power, because during the transition period from the New Order to the Reformation Order, he could if he wished to grab the Power from the former President Suharto at that time.

Thus his decision to join the Presidential Race in 2009 was purely to help the ailing nation.

President SBY and Vice President JK to compete in 2009 Election

Presdent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) said yesterday that he is ready to compete with Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK), Chairman of Golkar Party if he is proposed as Golkar's candidate for the next Presidential Election. However Presiden SBY assured that the candicacy of JK as President 2009-2014 from Golkar Party will not affect the current relationship between him and JK as President/Vice Presiden in the United Cabinet 2004-2009.

He respect the decision of JK as the Presidential Candidate of Partai Golkar. He believe that both men understand the Indonesian Election ethic. In the past, President Megawati also had to compete in the 2004 Presidetial Election with her former Vice President Hamzah Haz. This is Democracy Indonesian style.

Afraid of Politization, Vice President Jusuf Kalla cancelled Press Conference

The arrival of Vice President Jusuf Kalla from a trip to USA and Europe was delayed for 4 days. His arrival yesterday, Sunday February 14, 2009 at Jakarta International Airport at 06:00 a.m. was greeted by Golkar Party executives. Originally he was scheduled to give interviews to reporters that had been waiting his arrival for some time, but Mr. Jusuf Kalla cancelled the interview to avoid possible politization of the event by the press.

He said that he must report to President SBY on the result of his foreign trip to USA and Europe before talking to the Indonesian press. His delayed arrival coincided with the ending of Golkar Party Convention held a few days ago, and was suspected as a tactics to avoid announcing Golkar Party Presidential Candidate for the coming election.

In another situation, Golkar Party had released a TV advertising showing that Golkar Leadership as a solid team to face the coming election. Former Golkar Chief Akbar Tanjung commented that as for the Party's goals, all Golkar executives had the same opinion, however, as far as the implementation of the goals, they may differed.

Pramono Anung: Door for Cooperation between GOLKAR and PDIP is widely opened

Secretary General of the Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDIP) Pramono Anung said on Friday, Feb 13, 2009 in Jakarta that the door for cooperation between PDIP and GOLKAR is now widely open. He commented on the rift between Partai GOLKAR and its coalition Partai Demokrat (PD) earlier this weeek caused by a statatement made by an official of PD who underestimated the expected votes obtained by Partai Golkar in the coming election. He indirectly said that his Party offered a cooperation between PDIP and Partai Golkar in the next election, after being left by PD.

Because PD had announced that President SBY as its Presidential Candidate for the coming election, with no specific name for the Vice Presidential Candidate, and PDIP also had announced Megawati Sukarnoputri as its Presidential candidate, the chance that the two parties will make a coalition is fairly remote.

Thus according to Pramono Anung, cooperation between GOLKAR and PDIP would be a better possibilty to happen during the coming election.

Jakarta is cleard from illegal campaign posters and ballyhoos

Jakarta, the Capital of Indonesia starting yesterday was cleared from the many election campaign posters and ballyhoos that had decorated Jakarta’s streets and open spaces put by participants of the Legislative Election Candidates of many parties. They were considered illegal because the owners of those posters and ballyhoos had not paid the required campaign tax and were not installed properly according the election campaign rule.

As of today, only those posters and ballyhoos that met campaign rule are seen around Jakarta’s sky, noted particularly those large ballyhoos belonging to Partai Demokrat, the ruling party of Indonesia, which advertise the success of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In another situation, several Presidential Candidates who appeared much earlier in the election campaign, such as Mr. Sutiyoso. Mr. Rizal Ramly had gradually reduced their campaign presence, because of the high cost required to maintain campaign through mass media, television, radio, prited leaflets, ballyhoos and posters.

Thus only the strong, powerful and rich leaders of Indonesia will be able to continue campaigning for the leadership of the country.

Agung: GOLKAR will make a list of potential Presidential Candidates in 2009 Election

Mr. Agung Laksono, Vice Chairman of Golkar said on Wednesday, June 11, 2009 that his party will make a of list seven potential Presidential candidate to be supported by his party. The list of names will be available in early March 2009 as a compilation of proposals from various regiional Golkar branches throughout Indonesia. However these names will not be official until the result of the Legislative Election is announced in April 2009.

He said that the relation between Golkar and Partai Demokrat is a dynamic relationship that is aimed to mutually benefiting both parties. Changes to the current coopertion will depend on the outcome of the Legilative Election to determine Prsident-Vice President running mate for the June Presidentioal Election.

President SBY: GOLKAR is a close ally of Partai Demokrat

Commenting on the news about the statement of Vice Chairman of Partai Demokrat Mr. Ahmad Mubarok on monday, February 9, 2009, President SBY said in a Press Conference on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at his Cikeas villa that Partai GOLKAR is a close ally of Partai Demokrat. As a Patron of the Partai Demokrat, President SBY asked Mr. Mubarok not to make any statements without the consent of the party’s leadership that can cause trouble to the Party.

Mubarok: Jusuf Kalla may not be the running mate of President SBY in 2009 Election

Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party of Indonesia ( PD-Partai Demokrat) Mr. Ahmad Mubarok said during the party’s National Convention held in Jakarta on Monday, February 9, 2009, that current Vice Presiden Jusuf Kalla may not be President SBY’s partner for the period of 2009-2014 as Vice President, because there are other potential Vice Presidents, such as Mr. Hidayat Nur Wahid, currently as the Chairman of the Indonesian Consultative Assembly.

This could happen if during the coming Legislative Election, GOLKAR Party cannot secure a majority seats at the new Indonesian Parliament as in 2004. He gave example that Golkar may only got 2.5% vote, while the Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS - the party supporting Mr. Hidayat Nur Wahid) got a 20% vote, and the Partai Demokrat got 20% vote, then for sure President SBY will choose Mr. Hidayat Nur Wahid as his running mate for his Vice Presidential Candidate for June 9, 2009 Presidential Election.

Commenting on this remark, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that Partai Demokrat should not underestimate Partai GOLKAR for its strength covering all of Indonesian regions. It has had a long root of loyal supporters througout Indonesia.

Dispute about Election Results

Indonesia had had experience in the past for the first freely held election of President in 2004, and since then various Indonesian provinces and regions had had free and independent elections for governors and regents, In most occasions, there were disputes about the accuracy or corecctness of the election results, which then had to be resolved through a High Courts or Constitutional Courts.

These had led to delays in appointing Governors or Regents for many months, thus causing delays in the development of that province or region/city.

In the coming Legislative Election on April 9, 2009, the election process would even take longer period to complete, in view of the large number political parties and their candidates. There will be 44 political parties participation in the next election. The resulting large size election paper, whereby every citizen have to put a sign mark on their chosen candidate, make it difficult to manage, collect and count. There will be more disputes about the election results, for invalid vote, wrong counting or errors due to human manipulation or changes of data.

Since Indonesia consists of many islands and the fast territorial area, there will be signifacnt delays in the collecting and counting the election results. unless we find a more efficient and election counting tools or better computerized tools.

Welcome to the Indonesian Election News Blog

Welcome to the Indonesian Election News Blog!
This Blog is specially created to provide the lates news about the process of the Indonesian Legislative Election on April 9, 2009 and the Presidential Election on June 9, 2009, its preparation, campigning, polling process, election counting and the announcement of the election results.

The election news will also cover any activities of each party, candidates, supporters, fund raising. debate forums, election rallies, etc.

The purpose of the Blog is provide the readers with latest news and facts, so as to ensure the clean, fair and democratic election process, so that the results of the election really represent the real wishes and hope of the people of the Republic of Indonesia.