AS INDONESIANS return from the polling stations where they cast their votes to choose the country’s eighth president, a political commentator from across the Straits of Malacca has pointed out that Malaysians can learn a thing or two about the republic’s rapid transformation into the world's third largest democracy.
Yusmadi Yusoff, who used to head the PKR International Bureau, said that Indonesians have opted to compromise and tolerate each other against the backdrop of a highly tense democratic process to find the best leader for the highly populous nation.
The art of compromising while accepting dissent are values that Malaysia can learn from Indonesia.
Indonesians had in the past undergone their own turmoil, but they have emerged wiser and resilient with a strong fundamental democratic base, he stressed.
Similarly, Malaysia underwent a highly divided political process in the last general election such that Parliament was left in a hung state for a while, Yusmadi noted in an interview.
Like the rest of the world, Malaysia is keenly looking upon the outcome of the presidential election in view that Indonesia can become a world power within the next few decades based on its economic growth trajectory.
Indonesia is already a regional power in the context of the Asean grouping, whose chairmanship Malaysia is scheduled to take over next year under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Yusmadi, a former Balik Pulau MP and senator, said that Indonesia has a population base of around 273 million. Surely governing it would be as challenging as any vast nation in the world.
Hence, their political dimension is at best daunting but there are lessons which Malaysia, which is smaller, can learn from.
Besides compromise and tolerance, Indonesia has cemented a culture of leadership through consensus, consolidation, and dialogue.
This was evident from the way campaigning was undertaken. Although there were claims of foul play, the people generally cast their ballots under a peaceful setting, he added.
"Indonesia has a unique democracy process. It is different from others. From the leadership of Suharto to Habibie to Jokowi, the foundations of democracy were laid in stages until today she is a bustling nation of freedoms," he said.
The dynamics of her politics tended to revolve around the elites in the past, including those with military background, and the tussle was usually among such classes in society.
This has now changed in the current elections where the youths and graduates, civil society and the working class now want a bigger voice in the political sphere, he said.
"Indonesia has also shown reforms in its economy to chalk up strong growth numbers despite a wobbly global economy," said Yusmadi, who now chairs the conglomerate Encorp Berhad.
Indonesia's growth was reportedly 5.3% last year.
Pundits have also mentioned that the economy was the main focus in the presidential election, as the country needs a growth rate of 6% or higher to become a developed nation.
Leverage on Anwar's popularity
These elements are familiar to Malaysia. Malaysians have witnessed the cementing of a national unity government after the uncertain immediate outcome of the last election.
With such a government in place, the need for consensus, compromise and tolerance have never been more important.
The rise of youth and civil society involvement, together with enhanced demands from the working class, is something that our unity government cannot ignore, said Yusmadi.
He added that Malaysia has an asset in Anwar, who many Indonesian leaders look up to and have faith in, especially due to his struggles in the past.
Indonesia is also producing a new set of younger leaders, which Malaysia must strive to do, he stressed.
"Anwar understands this and hence he is mooting for meaningful regional ties. The key is that the Indonesians trust Anwar and we should leverage on this," Yusmadi said.
Indonesians yesterday voted in the sixth national election since emerging from a military dictatorship in 1998.
It's a three-way race for the top job, between Defence Minister General (R) Prabowo Subianto and two former governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo.
One of them will succeed outgoing president Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, who has served two full terms.
Jokowi remains popular but his legacy comes under scrutiny over claims of nepotism because his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming was named as Prabowo's running mate, and favourite to assume the vice-president’s post.
The results are expected to be clear only in the next 24 hours or so due to the vast territory that Indonesia covers in the constellation of islands and atolls. – The Vibes, February 15, 2024.
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