[Kabar-indonesia] 2 of 2: Tempo Cover Story: Opinion: Going for Gold [+Millions of Prizes]

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2 Tempo Magazine Cover Story Reports (2 of 2): 

- Opinion: Going for Gold 

- Thousands of Posters, 
  Millions of Prizes 

Tempo Magazine
No. 01/VII
Sept 05-11, 2006 

Opinion 

Going for Gold 

WHO was the best-performing governor: Ali Sadikin or Sutiyoso? Forty Jakarta 
residents-comprising people in the public and private sectors, journalists, 
students, the police, politicians, lawyers, human rights activist, 
entrepreneurs, researchers, bankers and housewives-all responded when surveyed by telephone 
texting. 

About 77 percent of the respondents said Ali Sadikin performed much better, 
10 percent chose Sutiyoso as the better performer while 13 percent said they 
were both equally successful. Among Sadikin's supporters, three of the voters 
gave him a high 10, while only one among Sutiyoso's followers gave him a 9. 

However, we should not be discussing Ali Sadikin or Sutiyoso. We should be 
talking about the next Jakarta Governor, even though the first direct 
gubernatorial election is still one year away. In fact, the registration of candidates 
is not happening for another five months, and according to the rules, Governor 
Sutiyoso, who has served two full terms, cannot be re-elected. So, there are 
many who are eager to replace him, and interested people are beginning to make 
themselves known. Suddenly, Jakarta is being pasted up with so many posters 
that it now looks like a city covered up in band-aid plasters. 

The posters carry different messages: to stay away from drugs, to attend a 
football match, to take part in a fishing competition or play chess. Whatever. 
But inside these messages of invitation, one can detect a face or two, of what 
could possibly be future candidates for the governor's race. Perhaps there is 
no harm in starting early to acquaint themselves to the public, by latching on 
to some public announcements. Even so, it is still difficult to find a 
serious contender among them. 

Is this an underhanded campaign to steal a march on others? Whatever it's 
called, no one seems to care. One person who plans to run admitted that it was an 
effort to preempt the real race, and that he risked being disqualified. Yet, 
the response is often, "so what?" It's true that not one 'potential candidate' 
has been penalized by the Jakarta general elections commission. 

And because there does not seem to be any ban against this onslaught of 
posters, we expect this 'subterfuge' campaigning to gather speed. Only those with 
thick wallets or rich backers are likely to sustain, and those with limited 
funds will probably end up as also-rans. 

A number of political parties are not even bothering to register their 
'funding sources' as a condition of their nominating a candidate. Indeed, political 
parties seem to be the only avenue to vie in the race for the city's number 
one citizen. Independent candidates without any party backing are unlikely to 
have any chance in running, unless regulations are changed accordingly, although 
when that is likely to happen is anyone's guess. 

The current rules of the game say that only parties or coalition of parties 
having at least 11 seats at the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), can 
nominate their pair of candidates for governor and deputy governor. That means, 
only the Justice & Prosperity Party (PKS), the Democrat Party and the 
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) can field candidates, because they 
are the parties to fulfill the required criteria. Other parties must coalesce in 
order to qualify. 

Indeed, with such tight regulations, money is likely to be the key factor in 
taking part in the race. The incompetent who owns tons of money is likely to 
be welcomed by the parties or coalition of parties. Conversely, the capable but 
penniless, is unlikely to get any political party backing. He will just stare 
longingly from the ringside. 

Ultimately, the public will lose out by this system. The chance to get a 
top-notch governor will be missed, because of this special party 'selection' 
system. Aside from hoping that parties will act fairly and not judge by how much 
money a potential candidate can bring as a prerequisite, there is nothing else 
that can be done. 

If parties would look beyond the short term and give a chance to those who 
are willing, without considering their financial capabilities, the political 
parties could hold conventions in order to select their candidates. 

In fact, such conventions can be one way of rejecting those with bad past 
records, or whose qualification is only having lots of money. A candidate who 
grew rich from corruption in the past, is most likely to do more of the same as 
the city's chief executive, to pay back the 'capital' he spent on getting to 
the top. 

Jakarta must be saved from these adventurers whose only mission is to enrich 
themselves. 
 
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Tempo Magazine
No. 01/VII
Sept 05-11, 2006 

Cover Story 

Thousands of Posters, Millions of Prizes 

Candidates for Governor of Jakarta have begun preparing for the campaign, 
even though the election is still a year away. Many are making use of posters and 
contests. 

FAUZI Bowo is smiling. Among the skyscrapers in the nation's capital, dressed 
in a black suit, the Deputy Governor of Jakarta is trying to send out an 
important message: to make Jakarta a drug-free city. 

Of course, Fauzi, whose smiling face can be seen in 250,000 letter-sized 
posters which have been plastered around the city, is serious about this message. 
Over the past seven months, Bang Foke as he is also known, has been busy 
ensuring the posters and the face that goes with them will stick in the minds of 
Jakarta residents. This is why the posters are not only found along main roads, 
but in Jakarta's alleyways as well. 

People know that Fauzi Bowo is Chairman of the Anti-Narcotics Agency for the 
Jakarta area. The public-service message clearly fits with his position. "It 
is one of the duties of my office," said the 58-year-old to Tempo. 

But everyone also knows that this number two man in the city government 
intends to nominate himself as a candidate for Jakarta Governor in next year's 
election. "But those posters don't have anything to do with the candidacy," 
insisted Widi Aswindi, Chairman of the Concern for Jakarta Association, the name of 
the organization which is printed on the posters. It turns out that this 
organization also cooperates with the Jakarta Anti-Narcotics Agency for the 
anti-drug campaign. So, while joining in the campaign to eliminate drugs, it seems 
that Bang Foke wants to get closer with the electorate. 

There is nothing wrong with this. Nevertheless, other candidates want to do 
the same. Take a look at the hectic schedule of Police Commissioner General 
Adang Daradjatun, the candidate for Governor of Jakarta who is being supported by 
the Justice & Prosperity Party (PKS). In the past few weeks, Bang Adang, or 
rather Kang Adang (because he is from Bogor), has suddenly paid numerous visits 
to public figures and religious scholars in Jakarta. And that's not all. This 
57-year-old has also put together an interesting event: the 2006 Adang 
Daradjatun Cup. It is a football competition, which has been held together by the 
Justice Youth Movement since August. 

Where Bang Foke uses posters, Adang has disseminated posters, stickers, and 
banners all over Jakarta: The Adang Daradjatun Cup lasts from August 19 to 
September 17. The total prize money is Rp187 million. "All prizes are cash," said 
Zulfikar, executive of the 2006 Adang Daradjatun Cup. 

Good luck. There are 368 teams taking part. Each team represents one 
subdistrict in Jakarta. Matches are held every weekend in five Jakarta areas. 

Igo Ilham, Chairman of the General Election and Regional Election Campaign 
Agency for the Jakarta PKS, played down the idea that the 2006 Adang Daradjatun 
Cup football competition is a way to promote Adang as a candidate for governor 
from PKS. "He is doing it as a deputy chief of the National Police 
Department," he said. In order to see if Igo is telling the truth, we can see whether or 
not the tournament is held again next year. 

Faisal Basri-who for some reason suddenly wants to become Governor of 
Jakarta-has also been on the move. This 47-year-old economist has already registered 
as a candidate for governor representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of 
Struggle (PDI-P), and is making frequent visits to poorer residents, especially 
those in pockets of PDI-P supporters. "I am not known well at the grassroots 
level," he said disparagingly. 

So, Faisal has gone public. During the recent August 17 Independence Day 
celebrations, Faisal and his family, along with his campaign team, took part in a 
number of traditional programs in various locations, such as the Taman Sari 
district, West Jakarta, and the fishing community of Marunda, North Jakarta. 

Faisal's visit to Marunda was eventful. Because he hadn't eaten all day, he 
devoured the boiled crab and shrimp served up by the fishermen. "When I got 
home, my feet were swollen," said Faisal, smiling. 

There is still another candidate, namely Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who doesn't 
want to miss the boat. As of April, when this experienced politician announced 
his intention to join as a gubernatorial candidate from PDI-P, he often visits 
party members in Jakarta. Of course, this was not only at the elite level of 
central party administrators, but also at the provincial level. 

In order to strengthen his network among the general public, Sarwono has 
gathered data on 20,000 local figures all over Jakarta. They include all sorts, 
such as the unemployed, garbage collectors, motorcycle taxi drivers, food stall 
owners, and middle-class types. In all, there are about a half a million votes 
which are already in the pocket of Bang Sar-which is what they might start 
calling him if he ends up winning the election. This is the number of votes he 
received when he was running in the election for the Regional Representatives 
Council (DPD) for DKI Jakarta. "So, at least that many will vote for me," said 
this former Secretary-General of the Golkar Party who is now 63 years old. 

One of his supporters is chess grandmaster Utut Adiyanto. "He is intelligent, 
firm, and is not a religious pretender," said Utut to Tempo. 

Proof of Utut's support for Sarwono is not limited to words. At the end of 
last August, he held a chess competition in Jakarta where players contended for 
the Sarwono Kusumaatmadja Award. This competition was held to commemorate the 
Republic of Indonesia's 61st year of independence. Utut played against 44 
chess champions from Jakarta's districts. 

In addition to the chess competition, Sarwono is also willing to ride in 
pedicabs to visit neighborhoods where sporting matches or free circumcisions (for 
poor boys) are organized by branch administrators in remote areas of Jakarta. 
"Pak Sarwono is willing to shake hands with those of us at the bottom," said 
Tomas Resmol, one of the victims of the attack on the PDI office on Jalan 
Diponegoro, Jakarta, way back on July 27, 1996. 

Lieutenant-General (ret) Bibit Waluyo, another candidate from PDI-P, is also 
campaigning among the lower-income people. The former military general is 
actively visiting PDI-P branch and sub-branch offices in Jakarta. In fact, during 
the recent Independence Day celebrations, Bibit organized a fishing 
competition in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, which was managed by PDI-P officials. 

A few days before the event was held, banners had been hung around North 
Jakarta inviting the public to participate. The prizes included televisions, 
stereos, fans, and trophies. It was no surprise when 1,800 registered to take part, 
even though the event was only for 1,000 participants. 

Bibit did not deny that this competition was to attract attention to his his 
candidacy for Governor of Jakarta next year. "If you want to say it was a 
campaign head start, so be it. If it means a disqualification, that's the way it 
will be. Then I can go home," said the 57-year-old. 

Among the gubernatorial candidates, only Agum Gumelar has been relatively 
shy. To date, this PDI-P candidate has still not thrown his hat into the ring. "I 
am not an official candidate yet. I'll begin when it's official," said Agum. 

This does not mean that Agum is sitting idly. For the past two months, he has 
invited a number of PDI-P branch officials from all over Jakarta to visit his 
home on Jalan Panglima Polim. "I conveyed to them my vision, mission and 
seriousness to become a candidate for Governor of Jakarta," he said. 

In addition to inviting PDI-P branch and sub-branch officials, a month ago he 
opened an office for his campaign team in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Even 
though it is still empty, the front room of the two-story house features two 
posters of Agum with a blue background and an Indonesian flag with the 
following slogan: "A safe, calm, and comfortable Jakarta." 

It is a message full of hope. But the question remains: will that be 
effective against the onslaught of funding from the competition? 

-- Poernomo Gontha Ridho, Kurie Suditomo, Nurlis E. Meuko, Budi Setyarso 
 
-End 2 of 2-

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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