JAKARTA, June 9, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Despite reservations, Indonesia's first ever direct regional election is seen as another significant landmark in the pursue of a democratic system.

The question remains, however, on whether the new model will pay favor with local people's interests or adversely only lead to the transfer of old problems from the central government to regions.

Indonesia, the biggest Muslim population country on earth with 33 provinces and more than 400 districts and towns, seems headed towards a scattered-battlefield as political parties scramble to have their own candidates elected as provincial governors, district chiefs and city mayors in the on going colossal, costly and lengthy regional election that started June 1.

The first round of the process, covering a time span from this June till December, 2005, sees seats at 226 provinces -– consisting of eight governors and 173 district heads and city mayors – up for grabs. The rest of the polls would be held next year, according to the Indonesian Interior Minister Muhammad Ma’ruf.

“The first ever regional election aims to uphold democratization process in Indonesia as well as strengthen regional autonomy,” Ma’ruf said.

The regions that have already kicked off the political festivities are Kutai Kartanegara regency in East Kalimantan province and then followed by Cilegon, the capital city of newly-established Batten province, after that Pekalongan and Kebumen city in Central Java province.

Votes in those four regions generally run well for ex-president Suharto-made Golkar Party that won in the first three cities and former president Megawati’s PDIP Party got victory in Kebumen.

In last year’s legislative election, Golkar Party won the contest which got 21.6 percent votes, or 33 million of 153 million eligible voters, defeating the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP) that obtained 18.8 percent votes.

“I believe the Golkar Party has the biggest chance to control majority of the regions in this regional election, due to strong organization and big number of supporters,” Bachtiar Effendi, professor in politic at the National Islamic University, told IOL June 8.

Effendi sees the biggest chance of Golkar Party to lead the regions as a reflection that people in remote areas seem to prefer choosing an old-known party, like the ex-ruling party for more than 30 years, even though it had made a mistake.

He added the first ever regional election is a stepping stone for the government to step-by-step transfer the centralistic power to regions in the frame of pursuing democracy in region level.

Hopes are pinned on the decentralization process.

Syarwan Hamid, former interior minister, however, said the implementation of the new policy must be in the support of qualified administration systems at regional levels to prevent deviations and possible abuse of power by local politicians in ruling the region; otherwise the “little kings” would be born.

“In democratic process, a newly-adopted policy in turn might possibly lead to unexpected consequences,” Syarwan Hamid, former Indonesian interior minister, has told IOL.

“Democracy and regional autonomy cannot be applied smoothly amid the prevailing lack of quality system,” Hamid added.

To avoid the breeding of “little kings”, revitalizing the systems is an urgent requirement to make it more efficient and prevent political power abuses, Eep Saefullah Fatah, executive director of the country’s leading think-tank Indonesian Institute, told IOL.

“If the people just got exhausted from applying the new policy then democracy means nothing,” Fatah added.

Fatah admitted that the implementation of regional autonomy itself has not been running smoothly as expected. The system was initially made to share the centralized system to become de-centralized by transferring control into lower political levels, but in reality the system doesn’t result in positive output, according to Fatah.

“Now, the bad things in the central, such as corruption, nepotism and abuse of power, just even transferred to regions."

A report published by the research institute Demos last week shared the views of Fatah and Hamid, stating that the emerging power system replacing the authoritarian and centralized power falls within six main characteristics.

First, power decentralization from the president to political parties and parliament. Second, the emergence of political parties is basically an expression of the change in the alliance of rotten interest, generally coming from the era of president Suharto’s regime’s old power.

Third, power decentralization from Jakarta to the regions in connection with the emergence of local influential officials such as the regent, mayor and governor, as well as branches of political parties and parliaments at the local level.

Fourth, the emergence of a patronage network that is decentralized, overlapping, and scattered built on the basis of competition for access and control over local as well as national resources and institutions.

Fifth, the emergence of operators, adventures, and political brokers who used to be at the bottom layer in the Suharto-made New Order patronage system.

Sixth, the emergence of organized gangster and party militia and paramilitary power that, in many cases, have replaced the role and functions of the official security forces such as the police and the military.

All of the above has resulted in the birth of “little kings” who control their own regions and states.

Some fear the breeding of "little kings".

Effendi said the emergence of the unexpected situation in short-term period of the implantation of a new policy is normal.

“In long-term, the system could be a foundation for establishing democracy; Indonesia-styled democracy,” Effendi said.

Fatah is in the offer of a formula to reduce potential emergence of the unexpected consequences in the region following the direct election. The current elections are one of three steps of political process the regional administrations should undergo, he said.

Another two steps are the use of power and the control of power by revising the regional administration law to focus on limitation of power, and setting up a mechanism control, according to Fatah.

He added if such measures can be implemented, post regional election then in long term provinces and regions would be stronger. The system would give no room for corruption or abuse of power.

“Democratic system is very expensive but the output to be the best. So, Indonesia as (a) nation could get benefit from the newly-applied system in long term,” Saefullah Fatah said.

Some voters in Cilegon, for instance, don’t seem to be heeding the anxieties over the emerging of “little kings” or bad consequences over the new system as long as these upcoming authorities will pay serious intention to the fate of the people of the region.

“I don’t care much as the most important thing is that those leaders can provide me with capitals for improving my home business,” Een Kurniasih, a home-vendor, told IOL.

The 41-year-old mother noted that the current government has been ruling the region properly. She hopes the first ever regional election can make her wish come true.

But Basuki (29) and Effendi differently see the situation. They are not even optimistic over the implementation of local direct election that will improve their quality of life.

Amid the expectation and pessimistic views, a young generation puts ahead idealism rather than pragmatism or harmful views. "Say no to corruption and nepotism" is also the expectation of a 19-year-old university student girl.

“My hope is the next leaders must be anti-corruption and nepotism as well as honest and hard workers in leading the region,” Irma told IOL. “I hope the “little kings” are not coming up,” she added.

“People in remote areas are already politically mature and able to vote directly for their own leaders,” Ade Miftah, a mayoral candidate for Cilegon city told IOL.

In this election, it is time to vote figures not parties, Miftah who is endorsed by at least four political parties, said. Miftah was defeated by candidates from Golkar Party in June 5 voting.

"People don’t expect that the regional election can solve everything but the hope is not just an illusion,” Fatah said.