A number of prominent figures in Indonesian politics declared the birth of a mass organization called the National Democrat (or Nasional Demokrat) on Monday.

Initiated by media mogul Surya Paloh and Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the mass organization could transform into a political party contesting the 2014 general elections.

The National Democrat was launched at a ceremony attended by top political figures such as former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, former vice president Jusuf Kalla, People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Taufik Kiemas, Megawati’s husband, House of Regional Representatives (DPD) chairman Irman Gusman and former Golkar Party legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan.

Also there, were noted religious leaders such as the former chairman of the country’s second largest Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, Syafii Maarif.

Anies Baswedan, rector of Paramadina University, reportedly considered a future influential national leader, was entrusted to represent the organization’s initiators in reading its official manifesto.

Anies said when reading the manifesto that the organization aimed to establish a “mature” democracy in the country.

“We reject a democracy that only concerns governance administration but not the people’s welfare,”
he said.

“We reject a democracy that only serves as a routine ritual in power politics without producing quality leaders,” he added.

“Therefore, we declare today a movement we call ‘National Democrat restores Indonesia’,” he said.

After the declaration, Surya said that the organization was established to answer the call to correct the nation’s condition, not to serve political interests.

“Every day, we see that the people have suspicions about the way the nation is run,” he said.

“We have to be honest with ourselves.

“The nation needs to be advanced, and this movement aims to help the process,” he added.

Surya, senior Golkar Party politician, added that the initiators of the movement had yet to consider forming the organization into a political party that would compete in the 2014 general elections.

Surya ran for Golkar’s top job last year but was defeated by fellow businessman Aburizal Bakrie, also former coordinating economic minister.

Responding to the birth of the group, Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham told reporters that he thought what Surya did was positive and reflected the spirit of the party.

“From the outset, Golkar was created to piece together various elements in society.

“This new organization reflects the Golkar dynamic,” he said.

Political expert from the University of Indonesia, Andrinof Chaniago, said that the National Democrat had yet to promote innovative ideas to restore the country’s democratic spirit for the future.

“I do not see fresh ideas from the National Democrat’s mission and vision to build the country.

“It appears to be talking about the same thing as much-promoted issues from the political parties,” Andrinof told The Jakarta Post.

“The issue of independence [from world powers] or bureaucratic reform are not new topics for the country. All politicians promote them too in their campaigns.”

He also warned that it would be difficult to shift the National Democrat into a political party because many members were still active in their respective political parties.

“A number of independent experts joined the organization because they saw it as a moral movement.

“But they will leave once the initiators turn the National Democrat into a political party,” he said.

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