Why not just pay the committee to ensure selection as a participant?"
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party Supreme Assembly Marzuki Alie has criticized the actions of the Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Convention Committee, accusing the members of not understanding the aim of the convention.

"The Convention Committee should establish the necessary criteria for selecting presidential candidates who can resolve the nation`s problems," Alie said here on Wednesday.

Marzuki, who is also the House of Representatives` Speaker, admitted that he felt obligated to express his concerns and make suggestions for the committee based on input he has received from members of the public.

"I do not wish to be criticized for choosing to remain silent on the issue and for not acknowledging the public`s response," he affirmed.

He believed that the committee has defeated the purpose of the convention by releasing the names of the participating candidates without divulging the general and specific criteria for the selection process.

"Even ordinary citizens can nominate candidates, not just members of the committee. If a consensus cannot be achieved, the decision will be made by voting. What is the point of that? Why not just pay the committee to ensure selection as a participant?," he said.

Alie hopes the committee will improve its processes to organize a convention that achieves good results and a positive response from the public.

"If they keep mishandling this task, I will reconsider participating in the convention. Why should I compete with a bunch of incompetent people?" he stressed.

Alie advised the committee to establish and announce the general and specific criteria that will qualify candidates to participate in the convention in order to give the public a clear picture of the convention`s benefits.

"If the criteria are strict and there are still too many registered candidates to choose from, they can simply open the voting to the public. But do not publish a long list of names in the early days prior to establishing the criteria," Alie remarked.

He also reminded the committee that the names of selected candidates must be approved by the Supreme Assembly, which is led by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

"I can assure them that SBY wants a candidate who is capable of resolving the nation`s current and future problems. If that can be achieved, then indeed 50 percent of the nation`s problems can be resolved," he stated.

The presidential candidate convention, Alie added, was not a game or a tactic for increasing the Democratic Party`s popularity.

"It needs to serve the purpose of recruiting a qualified presidential candidate to lead this great nation," he concluded.

(Reporting by Budi Setiawanto/Uu.G006/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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