Education to top priority in Depok<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Three of the five pairs of mayoral candidates in Depok, West
\nJava, signed a \"political contract\" on Wednesday to improve
\neducation in the municipality if they get elected.<\/p>\n
The contract, prepared by the University of Indonesia's
\nstudent union, among other groups, requires whoever wins the June
\n26 election to commit at least 20 percent of the municipality's
\nbudget to education.<\/p>\n
But, according to Nur Mahmudi Ismail, who has been nominated
\nby the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Depok municipality
\nallocated Rp 115 billion (US$12.11 million), or 28 percent of its
\nRp 450 billion budget, on education in 2005.<\/p>\n
\"The most important point is how the money is spent to improve
\nthe quality of the education our residents receive,\" said Nur
\nMahmudi.<\/p>\n
Aside from Nur Mahmudi, Yus Ruswandi and running mate Soetati
\nDipowongso of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP),
\nthe United Development Party (PPP), and the Prosperous Peace
\nParty (PDS), and Farkhan Abdul Rozak of the National Mandate
\nParty signed the contract after joining a debate organized by UI.<\/p>\n
Yus also promised to provide free education to poor students
\nby cutting the budget allocation for infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Farkhan stressed the importance of scholarships for
\nstudents from low income families.<\/p>\n
\"We will ensure that all elements in society, including the
\npoor, can enjoy a better education,\" said Farkhan, who is the
\nrunning mate of Harun Heryana.<\/p>\n
Apart from promising better education, the candidates also
\nraised other issues, including corruption, good governance,
\nsocial welfare and bureaucratic reforms<\/p>\n
Farkhan also vowed to fight against pornography in the
\nmunicipality.<\/p>\n
\"Pornography is a social disease in our society. We must fight
\nagainst it,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Nur Mahmudi, who is also former forestry minister, said the
\nmunicipality could increase its budget significantly as its
\npotential revenues were three times greater that its current
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
He gave as an example the fact that the Depok administration
\ncould facilitate Depok residents working in Jakarta to pay income
\nand vehicles taxes at home.<\/p>\n
\"Most income and vehicle taxes paid by Depok residents are paid in
\nJakarta. We can facilitate them to pay their taxes in Depok. We
\ncould thereby significantly increase our budget from taxes,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The panelists in the debate, which was organized by the
\nIndonesian Youth Movement Center (IYMC), included UI
\nconstitutional law expert Eko Prasodjo, education expert Yanuar
\nArief, businessmen Ibi T.G. Hasan, and UI students' union
\nchairman Gari Primandana.<\/p>\n
There are 899,419 eligible voters in the mayoral election,
\nwhich will be held at some 2,000 polling stations on June 26.<\/p>\n
Under Law No. 32\/2005 on local government, to win an election
\na candidate must receive at least 25 percent of the total votes
\ncast. If no candidate reaches the 25 percent quota in the first
\nround of voting, the top two vote-getters will move on to a
\nsecond round of voting.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/education-to-top-priority-in-depok-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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