Abdul-Ilham: A struggle since the beginning

Abdul-Ilham: A struggle since the beginning

Abdul Wahab Abidin and running mate Ilham Wijaya have trod a long and difficult road to be named the Depok mayoral candidates representing the Democratic Party.

The pair first had to compete with Gaduh Sunu Sumantri and Agung Wicaksono, who also claimed to have support from the party's central executive board.

After a tough party campaign, the Depok General Elections Commission (KPU Depok) picked their names instead of Gaduh-Agung, who failed to provide any documents verifying their candidacy from the Democratic Party, the second-largest in Depok after the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

According to the regulations, to be eligible each pair of regional candidates must receive support from at least one political party, which needs to have won at least 15 percent of the votes in the last legislative election.

However, some in the Democratic Party, it seems, still harbor resentment over the Abdul-Ilham party win. During the kick-off for the campaign period on June 9, Depok party chairman Rintisyanto questioned the validity of the candidacies of all pairs, none of whom had announced their wealth to public.

With that issue still unresolved, the pair began to disseminate a range of programs to improve Depok.

For education, they are offering subsidies to students from low-income families and scholarships for high-achieving students and teachers to study abroad.

They have also pledged to renovate all schools in poor condition and to establish libraries in all schools that lack them.

Their cultural policy includes regularly organized festivals of Depok traditional arts and awards for those who have worked to preserve local culture.

Their economic plan includes policies to increase municipal revenues, with strict monitoring and enforcement of tax and other fee collections, along with other programs to exploit the natural resources in the area, expand markets abroad, and attract investors to the city.

The pair also has touted a bylaw they say will increase job opportunities for local people in city businesses.

Heeding the popular demand for a crack-down on graft, the pair pledge to enforce tough administrative sanctions on corrupt bureaucrats and ensure they are brought to justice.

Abdul-Ilham have invited city residents to send suggestions, complaints and other information to a municipal post office box.

Political reforms include ensuring the Depok city council conforms to international rules governing local administrations, and making the council more transparent by allowing the public in to monitor council sessions.

Abdul Wahab Abidin was born in Depok on June 2, 1948. Recent education: Northern California Global University in 2004. Organizations: The Depok chapter of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the advisory board of the Betawi Youth Communication Forum (Forkabi).

Ilham Wijaya was born in Jakarta on Jan. 3, 1967. Recent education: Jakarta administration's education and training center for subdistrict head candidates in 2002. Organization: The Indonesian Civil Servant Corps (Korpri).