JAKARTA (SINDO) – A number of Special Committee members for Presidential Election Draft suggested that incumbent to step down if they wished to go in for as a candidate in Presidential Election (Pilpres).

The aim is that the election would be more neutral. it is worried that the incumbent would misuse the power for certain interests. Yet, some people considered the suggestion can not be accepted because presidential election is different from regional election (pilkada).
A member of the Special Committe for Presidential Election Bill, Jacobus Mayong Padang, said that the suggestion is to give political education to the people. ”It is high time we implemented a clean political system,” he said after the general hearing meeting (RDPU) with experts in The Parliament Building yesterday.

The politician from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle added that the suggestion for incumbent to step down was to keep the neutrality of the Presidential Election. Because it is worried that if the incumbent did not step down, the person might misuse the power he had for his political interest.

”if the incumbent steps down, it means he is not playing with his position. Do not let the people’s trust be manifested for personal interest,” he said. He stated that the stipulation for incumbent to step down had been regulated in the revision of Act No. 32/2004 on Regional Government.

The former secretary of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle explained that if the incumbent in regional election had to step down, for presidency it would have been the same. His party did not want any discrimination between President and Regional Heads. Concerning the ad interim officer for Head of State, Jacobus said not to be worried about. Because in the constitution it had been arranged about the triumvirat, that was if the President and Vice President could not hold office, the Minister of Domestic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense would be the replacements.

”It is only temporary. Just use the triumvirat regulation. We do not need the ad interim officer,” he said. The same opinion was said by another member of the Special Committee, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin. According to Ngabalin, incumbent should step down. Because if he did not, he would have difficulties to control the power. The incumbent could misuse the authority he had.

”If the incumbent campaign, then it is possible for him to use the state facilities,” he said. A different opinion was uttered by the Head of the Special Committee for Presidential Election Bill, Ferry Mursyidan Baldan. He said that the President position could not be used even though only for a little while. ”It can not be done, it could threaten the country’s sovereignty,” Ferry told SINDO yesterday.

The Politician from the Working Group Party added that President was different from regional heads. When the region head stepped down, administratively an ad interim officer could be appointed. Ferry emphasized that the triumvirat stipulation could only put on act under emergency condition. A political observer from Unair, Kacung Marijan, when he became the panelist in the General Hearing Meeting stated that the suggestion for incumbent to step down was not effective. Moreover, the incumbent was only given three months before the deadline.

”The incumbent has prepared himself two years before. If he has to step down in three months, it is useless,” he said. Kacung stated that in order to keep the presidential election neutrality, his party suggested that the criminal sanction to be made heavier. So, the incumbent could not dare to misuse the power for his campaign. (ahmad baidowi)

Source www.seputar-indonesia.com (07 april 2008)
Photo cortesy of http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/stokfoto/2005/02/03/stf,20050203-89,id.html
Translated by Yogi Djatnika (MKRI)