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Wanted: Morally sound legislative candidates
Role play: Officials from the Subdistrict Polling Committee (PPS) quarrel with locals during a vote simulation, which was jointly held by the Tanah Abang PPS and the Tanah Abang Police, in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Monday
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span class="caption">Role play: Officials from the Subdistrict Polling Committee (PPS) quarrel with locals during a vote simulation, which was jointly held by the Tanah Abang PPS and the Tanah Abang Police, in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Monday. The simulation was held to anticipate potential unrest during the upcoming general election. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
Who says that religion must be separated from politics? The two are inseparable in the Manggarai Raya region according to a bishop there who recently issued a circular on 10 requirements for Catholic candidates from Manggarai, East Manggarai and West Manggarai regencies, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) who are aiming for local legislative seats this year.
Hubertus Leteng, the bishop of Ruteng, which supervises the three regencies, said legislative candidates should be free from corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) and uphold a morally sound environment.
First, candidates should have integrity. 'The candidates should be faithful and free from KKN. Do not vote for dishonest ones,' he said.
Second, candidates should care for others and have empathy with the poor.
Third, candidates must have good intellectual ability, good leadership skills and be emotionally mature. '[The candidates] should be disciplined, diligent, hard working and responsible,' Hubertus said.
Fourth, candidates must live in a good and honest way in line with their religious beliefs and fifth, they must possess vast knowledge and strong nationalism without discriminating against people based on their ethnicity, race and religion.
The next requirement, he said, was that the candidates should be committed to defending human rights and dignity.
Seventh, candidates should recognize the dignity of men and women and fight for gender equality and eighth, candidates must be willing to fight against economic disparity and side with the marginalized.
Ninth, according to Hubertus, candidates must have a strong vision on the preservation of ecology.
'Do not vote for candidates who support mining activities that harm the Manggarai Raya environment,' he said.
The last requirement was for legislative candidates to promote peace and support measures against violence, Leteng said.
Siprianus Jemalur, an alumnus of West Manggarai Democracy School, admitted the region lacked legislative candidates who concentrated on the protection of the environment, while KKN cases remained. (idb)
