Concern about declining fortunes By Farish A. Noor

IN slightly more than a week's time, Indonesians will be heading to the polling stations to vote yet again. Compared to earlier election campaigns that I have covered and researched, this year's election campaign seems decidedly more muted and civil.

Indonesia, it seems, is easing itself into a norm of regular elections where established norms are more respected than contested. The parties that will be contesting are twelve in number, along with three local parties that will be running only in the special province of Aceh.

In terms of ideology and orientation, it has been noted by many observers, local and foreign, that there are few differences between the parties themselves. The one party that has a stand that is somewhat different to the rest happens to be the Islamist party Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS).

But apart from the PKS, there are also some other parties that are aligned to the mass Muslim movements of the country, such as the Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB) that is close to the Nahdatul Ulama, and Partai Amanah Negara (PAN) that is linked to the Muhamadiyah.

However, it seems that religion-based parties have suffered a decline since the last elections. Indonesia also happens to have three Christian parties, the most well known being Partai Damai Sejahtera (PDS). But the PDS has failed to pass the 2.5 per cent voter threshold mark, and will not even be in the running this time round.

On the whole, Indonesians seem to be abandoning both Muslim and Christian parties, and opting for national parties instead. So what is happening?

Well, on the ground it seems that some of the religious parties have become more desperate to win support, to the point where celebrities have been recruited into their ranks to run as candidates -- the most notable being Rhoma Irama, who is running for PKB.

Along with the well-known dangdut singer, there are celebrities of all kinds to satisfy all age groups: models, TV presenters, singers and an assorted band of media personalities, big and small, young and old (and some not really that famous) who have been roped in by parties like PKB and PAN.

Have the Islamic parties of Indonesia come to the point where the Muslim vote is to be won by singers and starlets rather than appeals to piety and the hereafter?

The answer is more complicated than that of course, as Indonesia's personality-based politics makes charisma and public visibility a major premium in the selection of candidates.

But the Islamic parties are also keen to emphasise that they are, like their nationalist counterparts, parties that are not sectarian, communitarian or exclusive. The recruitment of celebrities is a good way to tone down the rhetoric of some religious leaders, and lends an air of moderation, pragmatism and realism to their image.

Dangdut singers, for instance, are not only well known but also organically rooted in Indonesian society -- and by having them as candidates, the religious parties are saying that they are down to earth after all.

Another thing that the Islamic parties are doing is emphasising yet again Indonesia's ethnically and religiously plural character. The PKB political ad on TV even goes as far as stating that 'Indonesia is not a fanatical country' and that Indonesians should remain moderate in all things, including religion.

As the elections loom closer, it will be interesting to see how the religion-based parties like PKS, PAN and PKB fare at the polls. Some of these parties, like the PKS, have also been hard hit by their own internal disputes and corruption scandals, removing somewhat the lustre of purity that once made them seem different.

So, as Indonesians cast their vote next week and determine their country's fate and future, will they also be passing judgement on the performance of the religious parties of the country; and will they choose to vote for the mainstream national parties of Indonesia to signal their belief that Indonesia needs to maintain its moderate, pluralist course?

As I've said before, these elections matter to Indonesia as well as the rest of Asean, so watch this space.