Hey folks, I know it's a little premature to talk about the Indonesian presidential candidates for the 2014 election. But I feel it is important to know and understand the leaders and statesman (read A Country Minus Statesmen) who are declaring themselves to run for RI 1 and those who have the potential to be great presidents or vice-president.
Declared Running for President in 2014
1. Aburizal Bakrie (Ical) - Golkar (13.5 %)
A widely recognized businessman and politician. Bakrie currently serve as the Chairman of the Golkar party. He was Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economy and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare respectively from 2004 - 2009.
2. Ir. M Hatta Rajasa - PAN (14.6 %)
Long time politician from the National Mandate Party who currently serve as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs from 2009. Before that he was the State Secretary of Indonesia (2007 - 2009), Minister of Transportation (2004 - 2007).
3. Prabowo Subianto - Gerindra (16.4 %)
Politician and former special forces soldier, Lt. Gen. Prabowo initiated the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) in 2008 after failing to gain power in the Golkar party. Prabowo ran for vice-president for Megawati Soekarno Putri in attempt for the 2009 election.
4. Megawati Soekarno Putri - PDIP (13 %)
She is the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno and the leader of the opposition party - Indonesian Democratic Struggle Party. Megawati served as the 5th Indonesian president and the first female president in Indonesia shortly after serving as vice president in the Abdurrahman Wahid era. She ran for elections both in 2004 and 2009 was remained defeated by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Potential Candidates (42.5 %)
1. Mahfud MD - Chairman of Indonesian Constitutional Court
2. Anies Baswedan - Rector of Paramadina University, Jakarta
3. Dahlan Iskan - Minister of State-owned Enterprise
4. Sri Mulyani Indrawati - Maniging Director of World Bank
5. Wiranto - Retired Army General
6. Jusuf Kalla - 10th Vice President of Indonesia
7. Sultan Hamengkibuono X - Sultanate & Governor of Yogyakarta
8. Akbar Tandjung - Former Speaker of the People's Representative Council (DPR)
Polling is based on a survey conducted by the Center of Policy Studies and Strategic Development - Jakarta.
Let me remind you YES, Megawati is not giving up. She is persistent to run for office the 3rd time despite his husband Taufik Kemas have told her not to. I believe that the majority of Indonesians are smart enough not to fall for her and elect presidents just because one is the daughter of the visionary man who once gave us the Independence. She had her chance as a president and contributed nothing but losses for Indonesia, she was defeated twice in the elections and there is yet a guarantee that she will not succeed in the upcoming one.
In the 2009 election, Megawati teamed up with Prabowo Subianto an ex-military special forces General which was believed to have many human rights issues involving himself in the late 1990's. Prabowo is seen to be a visionary man but adopts autocratic leadership style influenced by the past Soehato regime in Indonesia. At first Prabowo wanted to run as president. However, Gerindra his party only won 26 out of 560 seats in the Indonesian parliament. The party did not have the required numbers, thus Prabowo ran as vice presidential candidate to Megawati.
Aburizal Bakrie on the other hand is a conglomerate with businesses in agriculture, real estate, trade, shipping, banking, insurance, media, manufacturing, construction, and mining. He was appointed as coordinating minister for People's welfare and was brought down politically due to constant pressure of people who are dissatisfied with his performance as a minister who is in charge of welfare, yet poverty, lack of education and health care continuously becomes an issue in Indonesia. Further, Ical (his nickname) is less respected due to the devastating mud flood which arise in his drilling business in Sidoarjo, East Java.
Last but not least Hatta Rajasa, chairman of the moderate Islamic party- PAN, this petroleum engineer served in the government as research and technology minister, as secretary of state, as minister of transportation and now as coordinating minister for the economy after his daughter married with the son of the current president. No one knows other ministerial positions he can be fit into, but honestly the public is not stupid enough that he hasn't done anything much for the country.
Seeing that political landscape where the oldies are running for president again, while non of them had shown a past success in contributing to the nation, I say it is wise if we look at alternative candidates which can offer something new to the table. I mean aren't you sick and tired of seeing the same old faces in the election ballot. Its time to wake up and elect statesman and not just politicians. Clearly we have many young bright-minded leaders which are waiting for their chance to raise. People with clear vision, strategic leadership and proven contribution to our beloved nation.
Don't get me wrong, I am not all against aged statesman like Jusuf Kalla or Mahfud MD who with their idealism had shaped Indonesia in their sectors respectively, but I feel people like our former coordinating economic minister Sri Mulyani who helped Indonesia to be recession-proof in the 2008 recession, people like Anies Baswedan with his visionary action to eliminate poverty and uphold social justice through education and healthcare as well as people like Dahlan Iskan who is determine to reform our state-owned enterprises by eliminating waste and maximizing all the profits from these companies, should be given that chance to lead our country.
I believe these people have shown their contribution to the nation, they are self-sufficient and only looked for the welfare of our people and not just become an elite politicians who seek for fame or a guaranteed retirement plan for their family as a president. We need change and that change should take place now. We cannot wait for another 5-6 years for change to happen. And the only way it will change is if we use our voting right correctly in 2014. ~ DA
