Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/07/2008 10:55 AM | Headlines
A sporting attitude and a tradition of respect from the losing side are all lessons in grace that Indonesia can take from the U.S. presidential election, in its own quest to nurture democracy, experts and politicians said Thursday.
Legislator Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the U.S. election was a showcase of politics at its most mature, with the Republican candidate Senator John McCain accepting defeat elegantly.
"McCain showed his heroic side and respect for Barrack Obama's win as soon as the result was out. But in Indonesia, candidates usually squabble over election results first, with nobody willing to admit defeat," he said.
Ganjar was referring to the recent gubernatorial election in North Maluku, which ended in a series of clashes between supporters of the two rival candidates.
"Learning to accept defeat is something our leaders must do in order to bring our democracy to a more mature level," he said.
Political expert Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) shared similar views, calling on Indonesian leaders to emulate McCain's move in urging his supporters to congratulate his victorious rival.
"When (former Indonesian president) Megawati lost to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (in the 2004 election), I asked her to accept defeat; but it turned out Megawati let her emotions get the better of her rationality, and she would not accept Yudhoyono's win," Ikrar said.
Legislator Marzuki Darusman of the Golkar Party said there was a nascent sense of sportsmanship in Indonesian politics. He cited former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, who was willing to "elegantly accept his defeat" to Wiranto for the party's presidential nomination.
"Obama's win is a good political lesson. An election should be seen as a battle for everyone, uniting everybody, instead of polarizing society," said former attorney general Marzuki.
Ganjar said Obama's win could also inspire a paradigm shift from the traditional Javanese president to one from a different ethnic background.
Ikrar said aspiring Indonesian politicians could learn from Obama's long journey to the presidency.
"Obama had to struggle in politics for 12 years before finally becoming president. He's still young but he already went through a lot of things," he said.
"Our young generation should learn from this, since there are many young and hasty presidential candidates now. They think being president is all about having money."
Marzuki said Indonesia could benefit from Obama's win, but would need to initiate a more personal connection with the U.S. president-elect.
"Obama surely has a relationship with Indonesia because he used to live here. But we can't depend on that kind of sentimentality alone. We must follow up on this sentiment and turn it into real cooperation," he said.
Mahfudz Siddiq, a senior member of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said he hoped Obama would take a more realistic approach in tackling terrorism.
"I'm sure someone with a multicultural background such as Obama would view terrorism from a more balanced perspective. Indonesia would expect that he see terrorism not only from its aspect of violence, but also the aspect of the economic disparity in this era of globalization," Mahfudz said.
A sporting attitude and a tradition of respect from the losing side are all lessons in grace that Indonesia can take from the U.S. presidential election, in its own quest to nurture democracy, experts and politicians said Thursday.
Legislator Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the U.S. election was a showcase of politics at its most mature, with the Republican candidate Senator John McCain accepting defeat elegantly.
"McCain showed his heroic side and respect for Barrack Obama's win as soon as the result was out. But in Indonesia, candidates usually squabble over election results first, with nobody willing to admit defeat," he said.
Ganjar was referring to the recent gubernatorial election in North Maluku, which ended in a series of clashes between supporters of the two rival candidates.
"Learning to accept defeat is something our leaders must do in order to bring our democracy to a more mature level," he said.
Political expert Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) shared similar views, calling on Indonesian leaders to emulate McCain's move in urging his supporters to congratulate his victorious rival.
"When (former Indonesian president) Megawati lost to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (in the 2004 election), I asked her to accept defeat; but it turned out Megawati let her emotions get the better of her rationality, and she would not accept Yudhoyono's win," Ikrar said.
Legislator Marzuki Darusman of the Golkar Party said there was a nascent sense of sportsmanship in Indonesian politics. He cited former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, who was willing to "elegantly accept his defeat" to Wiranto for the party's presidential nomination.
"Obama's win is a good political lesson. An election should be seen as a battle for everyone, uniting everybody, instead of polarizing society," said former attorney general Marzuki.
Ganjar said Obama's win could also inspire a paradigm shift from the traditional Javanese president to one from a different ethnic background.
Ikrar said aspiring Indonesian politicians could learn from Obama's long journey to the presidency.
"Obama had to struggle in politics for 12 years before finally becoming president. He's still young but he already went through a lot of things," he said.
"Our young generation should learn from this, since there are many young and hasty presidential candidates now. They think being president is all about having money."
Marzuki said Indonesia could benefit from Obama's win, but would need to initiate a more personal connection with the U.S. president-elect.
"Obama surely has a relationship with Indonesia because he used to live here. But we can't depend on that kind of sentimentality alone. We must follow up on this sentiment and turn it into real cooperation," he said.
Mahfudz Siddiq, a senior member of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said he hoped Obama would take a more realistic approach in tackling terrorism.
"I'm sure someone with a multicultural background such as Obama would view terrorism from a more balanced perspective. Indonesia would expect that he see terrorism not only from its aspect of violence, but also the aspect of the economic disparity in this era of globalization," Mahfudz said.
