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Political parties told to contest ideas, not attack each other
Political parties should change their old-fashioned way of campaigning by shifting away from gathering supporters on a large scale and attacking each other, and moving toward contesting one anotherâs ideas, a political observer said on Monday
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olitical parties should change their old-fashioned way of campaigning by shifting away from gathering supporters on a large scale and attacking each other, and moving toward contesting one another's ideas, a political observer said on Monday.
Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) researcher Ikrar Nusa Bakti said gathering people during campaigns would only lead to brief excitement for potential voters.
Ikrar expressed concern over the rising campaign trend of political parties attacking other parties' credibility ahead of the upcoming legislative election, scheduled for April 9, 2014, as the process would not educate people.
'Why do they have to throw mud at each other? Political parties and presidential candidates are supposed to compete by creating ideas or programs,' Ikrar said, as quoted by kompas.com.
He cited as an example that there were many personal attacks directed at presidential candidates in the first week of the campaign period.
He said that political figures should respond to the nomination of Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo as a presidential candidate by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) by exchanging ideas.
'Many have said that Jokowi is funded by entrepreneurs of Chinese descent. This issue should have not been disclosed in campaign activities as Indonesia is a nation-based country,' Ikrar said.
He also regretted a video that was released showing Golkar Party presidential candidate Aburizal Bakrie with actresses Marcella and Olivia Zalianty while they were on a trip together in the Maldives.
He said that the release of such a video constituted a smear campaign against Aburizal and was an attempt to reduce his electability by attacking his personal lifestyle.
Ikrar reiterated that it is time for political parties to focus on the use of the media as a vehicle to promote ideas, as it is used in England and the United States.
The campaign period for the legislative election began on March 16 and will end on April 5. (put)
