CIKEAS COALITION UPBEAT OVER ITS CANDIDATES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 24 (Antara) - The Cikeas Coalition of four political parties announced on Friday its candidates Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and his running mate Sylviana Murni, who will contest the Jakarta gubernatorial election on February 15, 2017.         The coalition, composed of the Democrat Party (PD), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), is convinced that Agus, first son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Sylviana Murni, currently a deputy governor of Jakarta for tourism and culture, will be an ideal pair for the people of Jakarta in the election.        "The Agus-Sylviana pair will provide a strong alternative to the people of Jakarta. They will build Jakarta fairly and evenly and be down to earth and appreciate the people's rights well," Didi Mukrianto, an associate chairman of the PD's Central Executive Board, said in Jakarta Friday.         Although being belittled by the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), one of the four parties nominating incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), and his running mate incumbent Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, the Agus-Sylviana duo, it is believed by its supporters, will be able to defeat the Ahok-Djarot pair.\

FINALLY, LARGEST POLITICAL PARTIES BACK AHOK

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 21 (Antara) - Indonesia will see a lively contest in the regional head elections in February next year with 101 regions simultaneously electing their heads in seven provinces, 76 districts and 18 municipal cities.          During the simultaneous elections, these regions will elect seven governors, 76 district heads and 18 mayors. The most interesting among these will be the joust for the office of the Jakarta governor.          Besides being contesting in the capital city of the country, Jakarta's incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and his Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat have gathered support and will be nominated by the two largest political parties, the PDIP and the Golkar, besides with the Hanura and NasDem.          The scenario has taken an interesting turn because Ahok had previously voiced his intention to run as an independent candidate in the gubernatorial election. He is a former cadre of the Gerindra (Greater Indonesia Movement) Party which nominated him to the post of deputy governor on the same ticket on which was Joko Widodo (Jokowi), nominated by the PDIP in the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2012.

NDONESIA'S PILKADA CAN BE ROLE MODEL FOR THE WORLD

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 9 (Antara) - Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy, showcased its democratic process to the world on Wednesday when it held its first simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada), a day before a world democracy forum opens in Bali.          The country's General Elections Commission (KPU) recorded that some 100,461,890 eligible voters were expected to cast votes to elect 800 pairs of regional head candidates in 264 regions across the country.          The candidates were running for posts of eight governors and vice governors, 222 district heads and their deputies, and 34 mayors and their deputies. If successful, it will become the first such election in the world.          "If the Indonesian Pilkada is successful it will become the first simultaneous local election in the world and will be a role model for democratic countries,"  Easti Handayani, the director general for Public Diplomacy Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Wednesday.          After all, the local elections, held simultaneously across the country, were organized only one day before the 8th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), set to be opened by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

WILL HOUSE ACCEPT PERPPU ON DIRECT LOCAL ELECTIONS?

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 13 (Antara) - Political 'battles' marked all of 2014 in Indonesian politics, which began with campaigns for a legislative election on April 9, as well as a presidential race on July 9.          The elections divided the Indonesian people into two opposing camps. After the legislative elections, two political alliances were formed, one supported the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla presidential pair nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) while the other backed the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa presidential ticket nominated by the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).          While the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla camp won the presidential race, the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa alliance controlled at least 292 of the 560 Parliamentary seats.          Then, the political 'battles' waged to win popular support shifted to the Parliament.          Legislators of political parties, joining a coalition with PDIP, formed the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) in the House of Representatives (DPR), while lawmakers of political parties in alliance with Gerindra set up the White-Red Coalition (KMP).

DIRECT REGIONAL HEADS' ELECTION IS HIGH COST POLITICS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 13 (Antara) - Many are opposed to the draft law, currently being deliberated by the House of Representatives (DPR), for electing regional heads through an indirect election.           At the same time, direct election is also being termed a costly political affair in terms of resources required.          "Electing a regional head through a direct election will need huge funds, but for the sake of preserving democracy in the country, it is imperative to do so," the spokesman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) for East Nusa Tenggara, Lodowyk Frederik, said in Kupang on Friday.          However, the House of Representatives is currently deliberating the bill which, if endorsed, will entrust the job of electing these regional heads to the Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD).          Frederik said when an election was held to choose the Mayor of Kupang City in 2012, it had cost some Rp16 billion. The funds were used to finance various activities and logistics to conduct the elections.

PRABOWO CAMP LOSES LEGAL BATTLE AT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 21 (Antara) - The Constitutional Court (MK), on Friday, finally rejected the Prabowo - Hatta camp's plea on the dispute over the July 9, 2014, presidential election results.          "The (Court) rejects the plaintiff's request entirely," said the Constitutional Court (MK) judge Hamdan Zoelva when reading the MK's verdict on Thursday evening.          The Prabowo-Hatta duo had filed a petition on the presidential election results with the MK alleging structured, systematic, and massive election fraud during the implementation of the 2014 presidential election.          The General Election Commission (KPU) had declared, on July 22, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his running mate Jusuf Kalla as president and vice president elect.          Jokowi, as the governor is popularly known, and Jusuf Kalla won the July 9 presidential election with more than 53 percent of the votes. The presidential poll was only contested by the two pairs, KPU said.          Prabowo and his running mate Hatta Rajasa, however, refused to accept defeat and accused KPU of being unfair and of rigging the election.          At a press conference in his official residence in Central Jakarta, President-elect, Joko Widodo, thanked the MK for having worked professionally, fairly and transparently in issuing its verdict which he described as the highest level of legal decision.          Thus, all legal processes have been completed with the MK decision over the presidential election result dispute. Jokowi promised to immediately take necessary steps to prepare his government.

LEGAL BATTLE ON ELECTIONS FUELS VIOLENCE OUTSIDE COURT

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 21 (Antara) - Tense faces were visible inside and outside the Constitutional Court (MK) which was hearing a dispute on the presidential election result in Jakarta, Thursday.          The MK was holding its final session to issue a verdict on a dispute filed by the Prabowo - Hatta presidential and vice presidential pair on the result of the Indonesian July 9, presidential elections.          The Prabowo - Hatta team sued the General Elections Commission (KPU), accusing it of having organized a structured, systematic and massive election fraud. The KPU has declared the Joko Widodo - Jusuf Kalla duo the winner of the presidential contest.         During the court proceedings, tense faces were seen inside the court, while outside thousands of Prabowo supporters rallied and packed the Merdeka Selatan and the Merdeka Utara Streets.          Before the MK issued a ruling that rejected Prabowo legal suit, a brief scuffle broke out between security officers and demonstrators around the nearby Horse Statue circle. Police officers fired a tear gas shell to disperse demonstrators. A number of people were injured but police claim no victims suffered from gunshot wounds.

PEOPLE NOW ASK PRESIDENT-ELECT TO REALIZE PROMISES

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, July 23 (Antara) - The General Elections Commission (KPU) on Tuesday evening had announced Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla (JK) pair as the winner of the Indonesian July 9, 2014, presidential race against their competitor Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa duo.          Jokowi and JK, who will be inaugurated as the president and vice president on October 20 for a five-year period until October 20, 2019, are expected to implement their programs and promises made during the pre-election campaigns.          "The president-elect should remain controlled and remember the promises he had made during the pre-election campaigns. Support and criticism against the president-elect will make democracy--as an essential means of popular control on public affairs-- function maximally," political observer Ari Dwipayana of the Gadjah Mada University said.          Ibrahim, a political observer in Pangkalpinang, Riau Islands Province, agreed, saying that the president-elect must give substance to the promises he had made to the people during campaigning.          "The president-elect should now start proving his promises to the people of Indonesia. As a leader who holds the people's mandate, he has to prove and realize his promises and programs," he said on Tuesday.

PEOPLE HOPE FOR PEACE DURING POLL ANNOUNCEMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 19 (Antara) - As they feel the rising tensions,  the public hopes that peace will remain in place when the General Elections Commission (KPU) announces the results of the July 9 presidential polls next Tuesday.          The rising temperature of the political atmosphere has been ongoing since the presidential campaigns were launched last month. Further, tensions have been exacerbated by the victory claims of the two contesting presidential candidates, based upon the unofficial quick counts.          Therefore, the public hopes that there would not be a chaotic situation when the KPU announces the presidential election results next Tuesday, July 22, 2014.          The hope for continuing peace has also been expressed by Din Syamsudin, the executive board chairman of the country's second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah. Further, the same call came  from Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Chairul Tanjung.         Chairul Tanjung said that the people hoped the announcement of the election results on July 22 could be conducted in a situation conducive for peace.         "We believe that the people's voice is the voice of God (Vox populi vox Dei). Therefore, we hope all sides will respect the voice of the people. Whatever the people have voiced is the best for the nation," the minister said on Friday.

PRABOWO TO TRUST KPU ON ELECTION RESULTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 10 (Antara) - Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said he will rely on the General Elections Commission's (KPU) vote count results more than the quick count results by survey institutions regarding presidential polls on Wednesday (July 9).          Prabowo said the red-and-white coalition (a coalition that had nominated Prabowo-Hatta Rajasa as presidential and vice presidential candidates) will continue to call on its rank and file to remain calm and not to be provoked by other parties.          President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has earlier called on both presidential candidate pairs to refrain from indulging in any actions that might heat up the situation.          President Yudhoyono made the announcement at a press conference in Puri Cikeas, Bogor, Wednesday afternoon, responding to the increasingly heated situation after both candidate pairs, Prabowo-Hatta and Jokowi-JK, had claimed victory based on quick count results.          The unofficial quick counts by various survey institutions, such as SMRC, LSI, Indikator, CSIS-Cyrrus, Kompas, and RRI, showed that the Jokowi-JK pair had won an average 52 percent of the votes, while the Prabowo-Hatta duo had secured about 47 percent.          Meanwhile, other survey institutions, such as the LSN, IRC, Puskaptis, and JSI, gave a victory of average 51 percent to the Prabowo-Hatta pair and average 49 percent to the Jokowi-JK pair.

INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RUNS PEACEFULLY

by Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, July 9 (Antara) - The presidential election held across the country on Wednesday was peaceful and without any major hindrances.          National Police Chief General Sutarman reported to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto that in general the polling process in all the regions of Indonesia was implemented in a smooth, peaceful and orderly manner.          The National Police chief said his rank and file had conducted monitoring and maintained security at 486,866 polling stations across the country. "Security officers had been deployed at polling stations to maintain law and order. We had also conducted patrols with adequate number of personnel. On the whole, there was no problem, particularly in Jakarta," the National Police chief said.          On the occasion, a teleconference was also held to brief the minister about the security conditions in the regions by regional police chiefs. "Today, the chief political, legal and security minister is with us to listen to information from various police forces in the region (Regional Police and Resort Police) on the implementation of the 2014 presidential elections," Gen. Sutarman said.

MEDIA ASKED TO HELP PREVENT CONFLICTS IN ELECTION

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, June 28 (Antara) -  Amid biased press reports about next month's presidential elections, the media is being asked to help create a conducive climate to prevent the outbreak of conflicts among supporters of the two presidential candidates.          "We hope that all electronic and print media will help build democracy through holding general elections without violence. Differences of choices should not lead to the outbreak of violence among the people," House of Representatives' (DPR's) Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung said.          The House deputy speaker made the appeal during a dialog among press organizations, media editors, University of Indonesia's (UI's) academicians and House leaders to discuss efforts of creating a conducive climate for a fair and peaceful election.          Although the media in the country seems to be divided and biased with regard to reports and news about the two presidential candidates who oppose each other in the upcoming July 9, 2014 presidential race, yet its role in guiding the democratic development in the country is badly needed.

PRABOWO'S ELECTABILITY RISING FURTHER

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 13 (Antara) - The Prabowo-Hatta pair's electability this month surpassed that of the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla (Jokowi-JK) duo, which was earlier the favorite to win the election during various surveys, the National Survey Institute (LSN) claimed on Thursday.      Earlier, according to survey results furnished by the Indonesian Polling and Survey Institute (SPIN), the electability of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa duo outshined that of the Jokowi-JK pair.           The LSN conducted the survey on June 1-8, 2014, while the SPIN carried out the opinion poll on June 1-4, 2014. The survey result of LSN shows Prabowo's electability rating at 46.3 percent over that of Jokowi-JK at 38.8 percent. The SPIN's survey shows the electability statistics of Prabowo's team at 44.9 percent over the Jokowi's pair at 40.1 percent.           However, the People's Synergy for Indonesian Democracy (Sigma) Institute still views the results of the surveys as a balanced support for both the presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs.

MEDIA SHOULD FACILITATE VOTERS TO MAKE BEST CHOICE

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, June 12 (Antara) - Many electronic, print, and online media publications are biased and even help publicize black or negative campaigns in the current presidential race between Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla pairs.          Observers criticized the media for not maximally facilitating the public to make the best choice. The media do not provide adequate information with regard to candidates' capacities, vision, mission and their plan of action to tackle the nation's problems.          "The basic function of the media is to assist the public and provide them with substantial information on the presidential and vice presidential candidates. But, some media outlets did not play this role maximally," Erwan Agus Purwanto of the Yoyakarta-based Gajah Mada University stated on Wednesday.          Erwan emphasized that the public needs to learn and explore the capabilities of the candidates. The media should reflect this information objectively and comprehensively in their publications. Regrettably, many publications failed to do this job. They are even inclined to showcase black and negative campaigns by supporters of the two presidential and vice presidential candidate pairs.          The public, therefore, should be able to hold various media publications to task regarding the information they provide on presidential and vice presidential candidates.          "The public must cleverly filter the information provided by the media in the current election campaigns. They should be selective in taking media reference, let alone if the media concerned have indications they are biased to certain candidates," Erwan remarked in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.

SURVEYS SHOW RISING ELECTABILITY OF PRABOWO-HATTA DUO

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, June 5 (Antara) - Surveys show that the electability statistics of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa presidential and vice presidential candidate pair have risen since the registration with the General Elections Commission (KPU).          The results of a survey conducted by the Katapedia Indonesia survey institute showed that the electability of the Prabowo-Hatta duo at the social media networks was experiencing an upward trend as compared to the electability of the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla (Jokowi-JK) pair.          "In the first week after the registration with the KPU, the electability statistic of the Jokowi-JK pair was 61.31 percent, far higher than that of the Prabowo-Hatta duo, which was only 38.69 percent. Yet, in the second week after registration, the electability of Prabowo-Hatta increased to 48.24 percent, while that of Jokowi-Hatta dropped to 51.76 percent," Andhika Dwi P, director of Katapedia Indonesia, said on Thursday.          Meanwhile, the Indonesian Polling and Survey Institute (SPIN) had also released the results of its survey showing that the electability statistics of Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa pair had steadily increased since early this month.          "Based on the results of a telephone survey conducted between June 1 and June 4, 2014, the electability of the Prabowo-Hatta duo is increasing," executive director of SPIN Igor Dirgantara said in a press release.          Igor stated that about 44.9 percent of the respondents supported the Prabowo-Hatta pair, while 40.1 percent supported the Jokowi Widodo-Jusuf Kalla duo. About 15 percent of the respondents declined to give an opinion.

SDA CASE TO AFFECT PRABOWO-HATTA DUO'S ELECTABILITY?

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 23 (Antara) - Amid preparations to contest the July 9 presidential race, the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa presidential and vice presidential pair has seen the chairman of one of its supporting parties being named a corruption suspect.           Suryadharma Ali (SDA), the general chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), which is one of the six political parties that supports the Prabowo-Hatta duo, was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday in an alleged corruption case related to the management of 2012-2013 hajj pilgrimage.           Questions are being raised on whether this case will affect the electability of the Prabowo-Hatta pair compared with their rival pairing, Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla, in the upcoming presidential election.          Political observer Teguh Yuwono of Semarang's Diponegoro University said that the naming of SDA as a suspect could affect the electability of Prabowo and Hatta as presidential and vice presidential candidates.          "It will, in general, have an impact because it will create a negative public perception. The people will view it as a problem among political parties supporting the Prabowo-Hatta pair," he stated.

THREE ALLIANCES LIKELY TO COMPETE IN 2014 PRESIDENTIAL RACE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 17 (Antara) - The Golkar Party and ruling Democratic Party (PD) are discussing the possibility of forming an alliance in a bid to field candidates for the upcoming July 9, 2014 presidential elections.          The two parties' leaders are expected to decide whether to form a joint coalition during their national leadership meetings on Sunday, May 18. If the Golkar Party and the PD agreed to coalesce, there will then be three political alliances which will take part in the upcoming presidential elections.          Now two political alliances are there. One is the coalition which will be led by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (DPIP) with Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, as its presidential candidate, and the other one is the alliance under the Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) with Prabowo Subianto as its presidential hopeful.

COALITION OPTIONS NARROWING FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 17 (Antara) - The ruling Democratic Party (PD) has not taken any decision yet, whether to form a coalition, join existing alliances or become an opposition party, but it has assured that it will decide soon.          "The Democratic Party is still working hard. It will make everything clear in its national working meeting on May 18," PD General Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the press while announcing the winner of PD's presidential candidate convention on Friday evening.          The Democratic Party has been conducting a presidential candidate convention since September 2013 to select its presidential candidate for the upcoming July 9 presidential race.         Convention Committee Chairman Maftuh Basyuni announced on Friday that Dahlan Iskan, current state enterprises minister, has been selected from 11 shortlisted candidates.          The PD leadership meeting will now decide its official political steps and the presidential candidate.

RULING PARTY CONCLUDES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CONVENTION

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, April 27 (Antara) - The Democrat Party (PD) concluded here on Sunday its presidential candidate convention for 11 participants who would be selected as the ruling party's presidential candidate in next July 9 presidential elections.          The convention debate which was held at Sahid Hotel in Jakarta was closed by PD General Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also the chairman of the party's Supreme Council.          The eleven participants of the convention will further be assessed by three survey institutes to find who among the participants has the highest electability. The Democratic Party has hired three survey institutes which will begin to work on Monday (April 28).          PD Chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) said it was the people who would decide the winner of the convention.  "The one who will decide the winner is not SBY, neither is the Supreme Council but by the people," Yudhoyono said when closing the convention.          He said that through debates in the convention, the 11 participants had revealed their ideas, solutions and policies regarding problems facing the nation.          "If the people follow the lines of their ideas, they will not make any mistake in deciding their choices," Yudhoyono who is also the Indonesian President, said.

JUSUF KALLA IS IDEAL RUNNING MATE FOR JOKOWI?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 16 (Antara) - The Bandung-based Padjadjaran University (Unpad) said on Tuesday that of the four presidential-vice presidential candidate pairs it had assessed in a simulation on the human right aspect, the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla duo recorded the highest score.          Some observers had opined that it will be ideal for popular Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, to run for president with Jusuf Kalla (JK) as his running mate.          The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI), which according to unofficial quick counts won the first place in last week's legislative elections, had nominated Jokowi as its presidential candidate for the July 9 presidential contest.          Tipped by many to be the winner of the presidential election, Jokowi is currently communicating with other electoral contestants, including seeking a running mate. The PDIP had previously opened communications with the National Democrat Party (NasDem).          Political communications expert Lely Arrianie Napitupulu of the Mercu Buana University said if the NasDem can encourage Jusuf Kalla to pair up with Jokowi, the PDIP will face no problems.