JP\/03\/DPD<\/p>\n
DPD candidates struggle to win the crowd<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and
\nAbdul Khalik
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
During the 22-day legislative election campaign period, which
\nwill end on April 1, the contesting 24 political parties have
\ndominated the wooing of voters, leaving Regional Representatives
\nCouncil (DPD) candidates with the challenge of convincing the
\npublic about the prominent role of the soon-to-be established
\ninstitution.<\/p>\n
Each of the country's 32 provinces will be represented by four
\nDPD members.<\/p>\n
The parties are vying to garner as many seats as possible in
\nthe 550-member House of Representatives (DPR) and the
\nProvincial\/Regional Legislative Council (DPRD). Meanwhile, DPD
\ncandidates are campaigning independently of party representation,
\nas they will be elected directly.<\/p>\n
DPD aspirants have incorporated entertainment and souvenirs
\ninto their campaigns just to attract people to listen to their
\nshort speeches. Dangdut musical performances and campaign
\ngiveaways have become commonplace since campaigning kicked off on
\nMarch 11.<\/p>\n
DPD candidate Agus Rachman provided both music and gifts, but
\nwas unable to attract a sizable crowd to a soccer field in
\nMampang, South Jakarta, where he delivered his speech in between
\ndangdut songs and lucky draws.<\/p>\n
Only dozens of Agus' supporters, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned
\nwith his face, came to the field and paid attention to his
\npolitical platform and programs.<\/p>\n
The campaign was still rolling when those assembled started to
\nleave the venue to get out of the scorching afternoon sun.<\/p>\n
\"The campaign is not yet over, so I beg you, please, not to
\nleave the venue. Stay here and enjoy the music that has been
\nprovided by our beloved candidate, Agus Rachman,\" a dismayed
\nemcee addressed the crowd, who came mostly from the Betawi
\nFraternity Forum (Forkabi), representing native Jakartans.<\/p>\n
Contrary to Agus' experience, DPD candidate Mooryati Soedibyo,
\nowner of cosmetics and skin care giant PT Mustika Ratu, attracted
\n6,000 supporters to her campaign at the Senayan Tennis Indoor
\nstadium, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The 75-year-old candidate spoke about women's empowerment and
\nother related issues, which received a warm welcome from the
\naudience, who frequently yelled in gleeful support of her.<\/p>\n
\"Women have to be empowered and they have to be considered
\nequal to men,\" she said, flanked by several finalists of the Miss
\nIndonesia pageant.<\/p>\n
No information was available as to whether Mooryati had asked
\nMustika Ratu employees to attend her campaign.<\/p>\n
Mooryati is among the few Jakarta DPD candidates who have a
\nsolid campaign budget to be able to afford television
\nadvertisement spots.<\/p>\n
Without party backing, most DPD candidates are working with an
\nextremely limited budget and are resorting to means other than
\npublic forums and print or electronic ads to get their messages
\nout.<\/p>\n
DPD candidate Gersonius Saragih opted only to distribute
\nfliers and brochures bearing his face and candidacy number in
\nstrategic locations around the capital, while Yetty W. Mualim
\nsent out 10 campaign workers to distribute notebooks to high
\nschool and university students.<\/p>\n
Taking an entirely different approach, candidate Maemunah
\nChairan initiated a community welfare project in West Semper,
\nNorth Jakarta, as part of her campaign.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp03dpd-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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