JP\/5\/CAMPAIGN<\/p>\n
Lampung candidates rely on 'dangdut', T-shirts<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N.
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Candidates for mayor Sjachrazad Z.P. and deputy mayor Rudy Syawal
\nwere surely disappointed when 2,000 people turned up at their
\nelection rally last Friday, as they had earlier declared there
\nwould be 20,000.<\/p>\n
The rally, held in a field in Bandarlampung, marked the first
\nday of their election campaign.<\/p>\n
Most of those present were Golkar Party members and their
\nfamilies.<\/p>\n
Despite the poor turnout, Sjachrazad addressed the crowd with
\nenthusiasm. "I am counting on you for my election as mayor for
\nthe 2005 to 2010 term. I can assure you of progression in
\nBandarlampung," said former Bandarlampung municipal secretary
\nSjachrazad.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of pedicab drivers were seen at the event, but after
\nobtaining T-shirts bearing the likeness of the pair, they
\nreturned to work.<\/p>\n
"Not bad. We now have T-shirts to change into," said Parjiman,
\n27, a pedicab driver who usually waits for passengers around
\nSaburai Field.<\/p>\n
A poor turnout was also noticed in another place on the same
\nday organized by nominees from the Democratic Party Nuril Hakim
\nand Zamzani Yasin.<\/p>\n
Only 1,500 people attended the campaign in the parking lot at
\nNo. 38, Jl. Yos Sudarso.<\/p>\n
Pedicab driver Syahrudin, whose usually waits for passengers
\nat the Tugu market, said he was tired of listening to candidates'
\npromises.<\/p>\n
"Take, for instance, the last elections when every candidate
\nvowed to improve social welfare. We have, in fact, been further
\nburdened by the fuel price increase as the prices of basic goods
\nhave soared," said Syahrudin.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that he would accept a T-shirt from any
\ncandidate, but did not trust a single one of them.<\/p>\n
"I have six T-shirts from six candidates already. If they want
\nto give me money, I'll accept that too," said Syahrudin.<\/p>\n
Poor election campaign turnouts have not just been reported in
\nBandarlampung but in South Lampung, East Lampung, Way Kanan and
\nMetro.<\/p>\n
No more than 400 people turned up at the fourth-day campaign
\nevent of candidates for regent Fadhil Hakim and deputy regent Emi
\nSunarsih in Kalianda, South Lampung. This was in spite of the
\npresence of Lampung's Malay music band, the Sindy Group, famed
\nfor its provocative dance routines.<\/p>\n
Rallies are likely to be more lively if candidates invite
\ndangdut singers or famous Muslim preachers to entertain the
\ncrowd. In Bandarlampung, around 3,000 people turned up when
\ncandidates for mayor Irfan Nuranda Djafar and deputy mayor
\nKuswandi invited Yuke of the AFI TV talent show to sing.<\/p>\n
In East Lampung, after four days of quiet campaigning,
\ncandidates for regent Mawardi Harirama and deputy regent Amin
\nTohari employed dangdut singers Ine Cyntia and Solid AG to put in
\nan appearance at the Sekampung field, attracting 4,000 people.<\/p>\n
Aware that people's interest in attending rallies has lessened
\nsince last year, many candidates have been spotted at traditional
\nmarkets and campaigning door-to-door over the last three days.<\/p>\n
Besides chatting with traders and customers, they have also
\ndistributed stickers and posters.<\/p>\n
Ari Darmastuti, a social observer, said the public was sick of
\ncampaigns. People, he said, would only turn up if they thought
\nthere was something in it for them.<\/p>",
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