PD presidential convention in disarray

JAKARTA. The committee of the Democratic Party’s (PD) presidential convention was dealt another blow after a noted academic withdrew from the committee.

Political psychologist Hamdi Muluk of the University of Indonesia (UI) said he had withdrawn from his role as one of the committee’s survey auditors as he felt the committee was not serious about hiring him.

“Initially, I felt the convention was a good idea so I accepted the offer [to be one of the auditors]. But after several meetings, I didn’t see clear rules of play for us. I didn’t even receive a formal letter regarding my appointment,” Hamdi said on Tuesday.

“The meetings were also badly organized, with committee members coming in and out at any time they wanted, despite the schedules established beforehand. When I came to the meetings on time, I often found an empty room,” he added.

Hamdi said he had sent text messages to committee members informing them of his resignation as a survey auditor in December 2013.

“I used a text message because I had never been formally appointed. I told them I could not be optimal in that kind of sloppy working environment,” he said, adding he had reached the decision without external pressure.

Recruiting auditors was the idea of political communication expert Effendi Gazali, a committee member.

Along with two other committee members — economist Christianto Wibisono and analyst Soegeng Sarjadi — Effendi appointed Hamdi and two other academics from UI — sociologist Thamrin Amal Tomagola and public policy expert Andrinof Chaniago — to serve as survey auditors.

“These people monitor the survey process and audit the results. This is to counter allegations that the convention has been orchestrated to favor a particular candidate,” Effendi said.

The PD appointed three undisclosed “independent” polling agencies to conduct two nationwide surveys on each of the convention’s 11 presidential hopefuls.

Effendi expressed disappointment after learning of the way the committee had treated Hamdi. “I thought I should also reconsider my position on the committee, but after a meeting on Hamdi’s resignation, I decided to give it another shot,” he said.

Effendi shared his experience when the committee tasked him with analyzing the media’s “unfairness” in providing equal space to all presidential hopefuls and recommended to the committee what could be done to deal with the issue.

“Since I submitted the report to the committee, I haven’t heard any information about the follow up,” he said.

“We’re academics. We only hope that this convention can serve as good political education for the people. But please don’t treat [Hamdi] like that, it was too much and it tended to undermine [him],” he added.

Effendi, Christianto and Soegeng are prominent figures known for their nonpartisan attitudes. Speculation is rife that the committee has appointed them only to create the impression that the convention is truly independent and professional.

But Lt. Gen. (ret) Suaidi Marasabessy, the committee’s secretary, denied such speculation.

He also downplayed Hamdi’s resignation, saying the academic was only “a nomination”.

“We received names to be placed as [survey auditors]. We are still selecting them. We haven’t decided yet,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Suaidi said the committee had begun its search to find a person to replace Hamdi.

Earlier this month, the committee conducted a four-day “Meet the Press” program, where all 11 participants presented their visions, to be later scrutinized by the press. (Bagus BT Saragih)