Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Golput’, in Bali Post, Sunday, 5th April 2009,
a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
a column by I Wayan Juniartha
Translated by Putu Semiada
ABSTAIN
Should we vote for the election?
“Of course, we should, otherwise you are not a good citizen, says I Made Nyoblos Makebyos.
I Made is very eager to ask his friends to vote. Early in the morning today, he had just brought 2 cans of palm toddy for them. However, it is not because he is a member of The Election Commission (KPU), nor as governmental official, nor he is a legislative candidate. It is all because his wife is a legislative candidate.
The funny thing is that in order to show their attention to woman emancipation, the parties are competing in proposing women for legislative candidates. They note that politics has been men’s business so it is difficult to source woman-politicians. To make things easier, the political parties just get candidates from people that have personal relations with them, especially the women that have special relationship with the chairmen of the political parties, e.g. their wives, children, or the chairmen’s other women, perhaps.
The result is that most candidates are not really credible enough. They are beautiful but we don’t really know what their capabilities are and what they have done for the people.
“If you don’t vote, it means you are not a good citizen. You are a coward,” says I Made.
“Yes, we are cowards. For us, the more important thing is how we can feed our families, replies I Ketut Masa Mengambang.
People are more educated now so it is difficult to push them to do something. You can’t expect too much, people coming to the meeting hall during the election day is already a good thing.
“Madé, you only bring us two cans of palm toddy, but you act as if you gave us a lot. You know, many candidates gave us much more than you did; kebayas, temple clothes, insurance, sacks of incenses. As it was too much, it gave us a headache, confused who we should vote,” I Ketut further says.
“Therefore we decided not to vote. We think it would be the right decision as it would be ‘fair’ for the candidates,” I Wayan Golput Sangut interrupts.
I Made is getting mad.
“If so, you are all not good people. If you didn’t vote for the good candidates, so the bad ones would win, and this country will be ruled by bad leaders.”
“Since when do you think we have good candidates? How could talk about good candidates when you do money politics to make people vote for you. How dare you advertise yourselves in posters when you never do something to this country. And everyday you spend a lot of money to advertise yourselves in the newspapers. All candidates are like this,” I Ketut further says.
“If all of them were bad, why would we bother to vote? It’s better if we abstain,” says I Wayan.
We should vote for good candidates. But it is very difficult to find good ones these days.
