According to a recent survey by a coalition of NGOs, no matter which legislative candidates (caleg) people vote for in today’s general election, corrupt, lazy and incompetent politicians are set to dominate national and regional parliaments, with only 95 out of more than 200,000 candidates having clean records and reasonable levels of competency

Man: Well, there’s lots of used up legislative candidates aren’t there!

Signs read: Election stall, Buy and sell used votes. Documents read: Ballot papers.

1st Man: Look out, carbon emissions!

2nd Man: Look out, promise emissions!

Signpost reads: Riyal, dignity, poverty, improving quality of life.

Man (speaking to KPK chief Abraham Samad): There’s an unpleasant odor of social aid funds isn’t there Mr?

The tongue indeed has no bone
Is not marked by words
A mountain of a thousand promises
What is said may differ from what is felt

(from a song by Bob Tutupoly)

Document in legislative candidate’s pocket reads: Track record, money politics, corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Tomi Sujatmiko, Yogya – Demonstrators from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held a protest action at the zero kilometer point near the central post office in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Thursday March 20 opposing the legislative and presidential elections.

Man: This isn’t a standup comedy is it? (documents in basket read ‘Perspectives 2009’)

Kid: For the sake of April 9 they’re all going on leave, who’ll run the country Dad?

Man: For... well that’s how it is!

With President Yudhoyono leading the pack, six ministers have now officially requested ‘campaign leave’ to stump for their political parties in lead-up to April 9 legislative elections.

Dedy Priatmojo, Syahrul Ansyari – Scores of demonstrators from the Alternative Political Committee (KPA) and the People’s Liberation Party (PPR) held a demonstration in front of the General Election Com