Your comments on the efforts of the Red-and-White Coalition, led by losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, to put an end to the direct election of governors, mayors and regents:

The group can'€™t change the system because it lost the election.

John Berkhmans

It'€™s a regressive idea. It'€™s not worth listening to the group.

Ferdinandus Supandri

So far we have some good mayors like Tri Rismaharini of Surabaya, Ridwan Kamil of Bandung and some good regents. I think direct elections are needed here.

Governors should be appointed by the representatives, since people have a lack of knowledge about the candidates.

Iwan Nurdi Zm

Governors represent the central government in the provinces, so they should be appointed by the president, but the regents represent the people in the regencies, so they should be elected by the people. The present arrangement looks almost like an anomaly.

Makamba Takumseh

I think the House of Representatives should be dissolved as it disregards the nation.

Ning M Widjaja

Both systems have their flaws. First, people aren'€™t really ready for democracy, even after 16 years of reformasi. Nobody is wholeheartedly willing to lose. Second, the prevailing perception is that everybody can be bought and influenced to act toward desired goals. So each candidate will work all-out, using all means, to win the election.

It'€™s obvious that vote-buying, black campaigns, intimidation, mobilizing mobs and horizontal conflicts cannot be avoided. I agree that direct elections are very costly, not only financially but socially as well.

So if the House finally to opts for representation, precautionary measures should be carefully drafted to prevent all flaws associated with the representation system.

Oom Roes
SMS

My, my, did losing make them so sore that they have lost even their last shred of reason?

Hadi
Surabaya

The Constitutional Court has a say on direct elections. Is it against or according to the Constitution?

Whichever path is taken, there will be corruption. You have to pay in advance either to the people or the legislators.

E Nurdin
Jakarta

Those who strive to set back democracy are the enemies of the people and must be treated as such.

Wibowo
Jakarta

I think direct elections are better because the people can choose governors, regents and mayors, but this system needs huge financing and can also be manipulated.

Having elections through local councils will be more efficient so that the funds can be shifted to finance other pro-people programs.

Abdul Rahim
Tangerang, Banten

Indonesia does its best to answer the people'€™s voices in deciding matters in accordance with the world'€™s accepted ways and means, as desired by Pancasila and the corresponding Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).

Seeking an end to the direct election of governors, mayors and regents is certainly not progress, especially when the losing presidential candidate happens to have a somewhat gainful position in the House; something with which the majority of people don'€™t seem to agree with.

The end of direct elections is indeed undemocratic and the Red-and-White Coalition has tried to impose this as a last resort. No Sir, we are not going to go backward, we are moving forward.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta

Decentralization and the fact that people in faraway municipalities and regencies are able to elect their own leaders have been the single most powerful force behind Indonesia'€™s unity and territorial integrity. Putting an end to this will only alienate people and fuel calls for independence from Jakarta.

Norbert
Jakarta

 It is true that democracy is open to corruption. Witness the hundreds identified, caught and brought before the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Who could deny then that thus far democracy in Indonesia has been far more successful in bringing the corrupt to justice than the New Order system of representation by appointment? How quickly does the Indonesian legislative think the public will forget the US$2 billion annual turnover of Soeharto Inc.?

All that is required is the separation of powers as exhibited by the KPK. Then allow democracy to run its course. Democracy then allows the people to remove those that the KPK cannot.

Time will take care of the rest.

Noone

It is unbelievable how this coalition is behaving. I wonder how many Prabowo voters regret their decision now.

S Desantis

Indonesians should just be careful. These are the tactics of Indonesian politicians. They always try to find a way to suck the blood of ordinary people and most of the time they do this illegally.

Idiansyah Putra

The House, which has been sitting on its hands getting very little done, is now in a rush to destroy Indonesia'€™s democratic rule. They are slapping the face of everyone who lost family members in the fight for a democratic Indonesia as well as everyone who stood and demanded democracy in Indonesia. Why? Because of one dangerous man who should probably be locked up with no outside contact for basically trying to perform a coup via the House while he has a majority.

If anyone thinks that the Indonesian government is home to a lot of corruption now, just wait and see. The people will have no say and will be told to follow or else. New local leaders will be directed by whoever can pay them or to repay the debt of being put in a leadership position, even though they are the dumbest people in the entire district.

The welfare of any person will be cast aside to serve whatever interests the deciding factions want '€” the end of Indonesian democracy, the end of outside investment and the end of good manufacturing.

X Simaging

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