At 7.00 a.m on April. 9, The
Indonesian legislative race was officially underway. There was an exciting buzz
around the neighborhood as polling stations started to open. People flocked to
cast their vote. Parents came with their children in tow. Door prizes were
offered to attract more voters. The election fever pitch rose by the hour.
Despite the racket, my husband
and I chose to stay at home, lazing around in this extra one day off. Thanks
Heaven, we were not infected by the craze fever. In fact, we chose not to waste
our vote for the political circus. Oh yes! We have lost our faith in the
candidates brawl and empty promises!
It’s hard to find honest
politicians with integrity. We have been cheated, mistreated and let down over
and over again. Looking for the right candidates is like looking a needle in
the haystack.
And who would dare to blame us?
With the constant under-performance of our political representatives and
growing resentment at the rampant, corrupt practices deeply rooted in the
legislative and executives’ bodies, what choice do we have?
Personally, I have lost my trust
in the politicians and political parties alike. They always busy to save their
own neck, bickering around and use any means necessary to accumulate wealth for
their own selfish reason. History repeats itself. Once these crooked
politicians got the seat, they would not keep their promises. Their
constituents mean greatly only approaching the Election Day. Once it’s over,
they dump them to die on the streets of poverty and despair. Yup…they are such
an ungrateful bunch of savages.
Their integrity lessens inch by
inch on daily basis as more and more politicians and power holders alike are
mired with corruption and rampant abuse of power, the latter being of course
the embryo, albeit the very womb from which all manner of corruption is
hatched.
Integrity becomes a rare
commodity. Integrity as a quality encompasses many of the best and most
admirable traits in a man: honesty, uprightness, trustworthiness, fairness,
loyalty and the courage to keep one’s word and one’s promises regardless of the
consequences, is on the verge of extinction. It is drowned in the superficial
campaigns and apathetic rhetoric. Their promises and speeches nakedly expose
the sordid underbelly beneath their camouflage of their respectable façade.
They literally only talk the talk, and fail to walk the talk.
Apparently, my husband and I are
not the only one to lose confidence in the political showdown on this
legislative election. Many share similar view on the election. It is not
surprising the number of abstainers or non-voters tends to rise dramatically in
line with the mounting dissatisfaction towards the worsening performance of the
people’s representatives and resentment at the corruption rampant in either in
the legislative or executives bodies. In 2004 election, the figure of
non-voters rose sharply to more than double to 23.2 percent, and almost triple
in the 2009 elections. I believe the figure in 2014 also increases
significantly, which has been predicted to reach more than 40%.
A quick glance at the never-ending news headlines
trumpeting the latest scandal and tale of corruption and immoral activities of
politicians in the bodies shows the worsening conducts of political elites. Liar
extraordinaire. Scoundrel without a shred of personal integrity. Unwilling to
follow the laws they themselves created!
They have lost public trust because they act in opposite of
the highest standards of honesty and integrity. They cannot hope to retain the
confidence of the public unless they are recognized as honest and effective
politicians, settling anything less than extremely high standards of integrity.
Instead of travelling the length and breadth of the country,
addressing audiences at mass rallies where they appear alongside with dangdut
singers and members handing out T-shirts and stickers, and often cash, these
politicians should establish their integrity to gain the public trust. Without
it, they are just like disgrace beggars in grand luxurious clothing amidst the
slums that nobody would want to vote for them, let alone trust them.
They should realize that it is their responsibility to be
truthful, ethical and effective - as leaders, lawmakers, and as human
beings. If you give your word, keep it! If
you say something, keep it truthful and don't try to spin it. One with
integrity and honesty will perform their task to the best of their ability.
Their own desires and needs will be put aside when on the job.
In short, to effectively lead and garner support from their
constituents, they should walk the talk and build an indisputable trust and
integrity. Only when they succeed to nurture such qualities, then public will willingly cast their vote.
Having said that, I think that criminalizing non-voters or
brand it as ‘haram’ is baseless and ridiculous. Not to vote is also the right
of every citizen. Instead of condemning them, their behavior of distrusting
politicians should be taken as a warning for politicians that they should
rebuild their integrity and improve performance. It shows how people in the
grass root have been so sick and disgusted with corruption. Thus, committed
politician should take this as constructive criticisms to uphold zero tolerance
for corrupt practices.
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