Big names vie to become DPD members next year<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Claiming to represent the interests of Jakarta, a number of
\npeople including a former minister, businesspeople, activists and
\nalso ethnic Jakartans (Betawi) joined the race to gain membership
\nin the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).<\/p>\n
They were among the 398 people who picked up registration
\nforms from the Jakarta Provincial General Election Commission
\n(KPUD).<\/p>\n
The registration forms were made available for collection on
\nMonday July 8 and the registration period was to end this Monday,
\nbut the General Elections Commission (KPU) extended it until July
\n21.<\/p>\n
The would-be candidates, who will be directly elected by the
\npeople next April, came from various background.<\/p>\n
Betawi community leaders, who have taken the forms, include
\nchairman of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) Fadloli El Muhir,
\nnoted Muslim female preacher Soerjani Tohir, son of the late
\nnoted actor Benyamin S., Beni Benyamin, and former presenter of
\nstate-run TVRI television station, Rusdi Saleh.<\/p>\n
While national figures who have picked up the forms include
\nformer environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and several
\nbusinesspeople including Moeryati Soedibyo, Pontjo Sutowo and
\nKemala Motik.<\/p>\n
Mardi, one of the registration staff, said on Monday that
\nenvironmentalist Emmy Hafild also expressed the wish to take part
\nin the race but she had not picked up the form yet.<\/p>\n
The registration form is the first step in applying for
\ncandidacy to run for DPD membership before becoming an official
\ncandidate.<\/p>\n
Each province will have four representatives in the new body.
\nTogether with the House of Representatives, DPD will form the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, the highest legislative body in
\nthe country. It will be the first time for the country to apply
\nthe bicameral system.<\/p>\n
The DPD will have various powers, including proposing bills to
\nthe House in connection with regional autonomy, management of
\nnatural resources and cooperation between the regions and the
\ncentral government.<\/p>\n
The KPU extended the registration period until July 21 as
\nrelatively few people have taken registrations forms in the
\nregions due to poor dissemination of information about the
\nregistration.<\/p>\n
\"We are happy that the registration time has been extended as
\nmore people may join the race, \" said KPUD member Riza Patria, at
\nits meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
Previously a number of urban observers and activists
\ncriticized the KPUD for failing to dissemination information on
\nthe registration to the people. Between July 8 and July 11, only
\nsome 100 people had taken the forms.<\/p>\n
The forms should be accompanied by photocopies of the identity
\ncards of 3,000 supporters before they are returned to the KPUD
\noffice on Sept. 8.<\/p>",
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