Zainal, champion of Riau development<\/p>\n
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau<\/p>\n
With his patience, resignation and sociability, H.M. Rusli Zai
\nnal, the new governor of Riau has won the hearts of the
\nprovince's population.<\/p>\n
Formerly the regent of Indragiri Hilir, Riau, Zainal was
\nelected governor of Riau province in a plenary session of the
\nRiau provincial legislative assembly on Oct. 22, 2003 when he
\nsecured 34 votes out of a total of 55 votes contested.<\/p>\n
Born in Mandah village in Indragiri Hilir on Dec. 3, 1957,
\nZainal, who will lead the province of Riau until 2008, is now the
\ncountry's youngest governor.<\/p>\n
Indeed, in his efforts to develop Riau, he is facing a great
\nchallenge. The 2000 population census shows that Riau has a
\npopulation of 4.7 million people; 43.9 percent are poor and
\neleven percent of these poor families are categorized as very
\npoor.<\/p>\n
The province is also home to 45,828 neglected children.
\nRegarding education, 32.6 percent of Riau people have never been
\nto school.<\/p>\n
Those who finished their elementary schooling make up 33.34
\npercent of the population while those who completed their junior
\nand senior high school education account for respectively 16.9
\npercent and 14.3 percent of the total population.<\/p>\n
Only 1.81 percent of Riau people have completed their tertiary
\neducation.<\/p>\n
\"This is really an irony given the rich natural resources of
\nthis province. This is a big challenge that we must tackle
\ntogether at all levels of administration. I hope the heads of
\nadministrative regions across this province will team up to
\neradicate poverty from Riau. We have to carry on where the former
\ngovernor left off,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Many people felt surprised to learn of his election as Riau
\ngovernor, especially because during the race for the governor's
\nseat, he had to face his strongest rival, the then incumbent
\ngovernor of Riau province, Saleh Djasit, who had been the regent
\nof Kampar for two terms of office.<\/p>\n
But Zainal believes the road of destiny led him to the
\ngovernorship.<\/p>\n
\"It is God that has allowed me to win. Patience and
\nresignation are the main assets for anything that a man does. My
\nelection as Riau governor is not a personal victory; rather, it
\nis the victory of all. Let us join hands in building a better
\nfuture for Riau,\" said Zainal, who graduated from the School of
\nEconomics, Riau University, in 1984.<\/p>\n
Husband of Septina Primawati and the father of a child he
\nbegan his political life when he joined Golkar Party and served
\nas the treasurer of the party's Riau provincial executive board
\nbetween 1990 and 1999.<\/p>\n
Formerly general chairman of Paskibraka (a selected group of
\nhigh school students assigned to hoist the red-and-white flag in
\na ceremony marking Indonesia's independence day anniversary at
\nthe presidential palace) for Riau between 1992 and 1995, he
\nlearned a lot about the art of politics during this time. Among
\njournalists, who report that this governor-elect is a very open
\nperson, he is also known as an excellent lobbyist.<\/p>\n
True to this label, Zainal, or intimately called Bang (Elder
\nBrother) Rusli, proved his lobbying skills during the election
\nprocess. As his own party did not support him as a candidate, he
\nlobbied the United Development Party (PPP) and joined the contest
\nwith the support of PPP.<\/p>\n
Zainal, who was once the country's best university student and
\nserved as general chairman of the Gapensi (the national
\ncontractors association) Riau chapter in 1999, attributes his
\nelection as Riau governor to some extent to the press. Thanks to
\nthe mass media, his name was publicized not only locally, but
\nalso nationally. That's why he modestly prefers not to be
\naddressed as Bapak (Sir) by journalists.<\/p>\n
\"No. My election as governor does not necessarily mean that I
\nhave to change completely. I'm used to being addressed as Abang
\n(elder brother) by journalists. Keep it that way. Journalists
\nshould continue to criticize me. Criticism is necessary for
\nintrospection,\" he said, smiling.<\/p>\n
Touching on his main program as the new governor of Riau,
\nZainal, who will be installed on Nov. 22, 2003 by the home
\nministry, said that, in developing the province, he would
\nprioritize the establishment of unity among the entire community.<\/p>\n
Hot on his agenda are, among others, responding to the demands
\nof the reform movement, upholding democracy, implementing
\nregional autonomy and responding to the impact of globalization.
\n\"To promote the welfare of the Riau people we must first have a
\ncommon perception,\" he told The Jakarta Post at his residence in
\nPekanbaru.<\/p>\n
Zainal is the first Riau governor not to have hailed from the
\nmilitary or the bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
Zainal was a local contractor before plunging into politics.
\nBetween 1997 and 1999 he was a member of the provincial
\nlegislative assembly. His election as Riau governor has aroused
\nhope among the people of Riau that the economic condition of this
\nprovince will change for the better.<\/p>\n
During the election process, Zainal and his family faced a
\nseries of ordeals pointed at discouraging the candidate.
\nSlanderous statements were made about him by his political foes.
\nLocal media publications, for example, carried reports
\ndiscrediting him. He was even reported to have indulged in an
\nillicit relationship with dangdut singer Iyet Bustami.<\/p>\n
Moreover, when he was the regent of Indragiri Hilir, he was
\nsaid to have spent part of the regional budget on lavishing Iyet
\nwith luxury.<\/p>\n
This slander emerged when he made up his mind to take part in
\nthe race for Riau governor's seat. Nevertheless, Zainal remained
\npatient and did not react to the series of reports bombarded on
\nhim and his family.<\/p>\n
\"Honestly, these character assassinations were quite a big
\nshock for me and my family. We are just ordinary human beings.
\nYet we realize that they were the risk of the political game.
\nWhen I was elected governor, some people involved in these
\n(slanderous) attempts came to me to ask for forgiveness. They
\nsaid they had been paid to do so for certain political purposes.
\nI bear no grudge, though. Well, the key is that we have to be
\npatient as God has promised He will love those who are patient,\"
\nsaid Zainal, who has achieved a great deal for an ordinary man.<\/p>",
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