Sat, 16 Aug 2003

Artist Iwan running for Bandung mayor

Wawan Hussein, Contributor, Bandung

California has Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bandung has Iwan "Abah" Abdulrachman, who hopes to become the city's next mayor. They are both entertainers, Arnold a film star and Iwan a musician and composer. And both are eager to enter the "busy world of political gossip".

Iwan, who is married to physician Djawarsih Sariawati, with whom he has five children, is among the five mayoral candidates short-listed by the Bandung Legislative Council. His main opponents look to be incumbent Mayor Aa Tarmana and Dada Rosada, a career civil servant. The new mayor will be sworn into office in October.

Iwan, who lists his age as "between 57 and 58", is a songwriter and a master of Sundanese martial arts, having been a member of the Bandar Karima martial arts organization. In fact, Iwan, who is Sundanese-Minang, is known as a taciturn man who prefers action to words.

In the nature group Wanadri, he belongs to Circle One -- those members who are ready and able to take part in search and rescue missions at anytime.

He was a member of the Group Pecinta Lagu (GPL) at Padjadjaran University. GPL -- in its heyday -- was comparable to the Parahyangan University choir at present.

Iwan was out of the media spotlight for years, until making a return recently. The master returned to the stage in February 2001 at Rumah Nusantara -- a cultural center in Bandung -- in collaboration with friends such as anthropologist and musician Dang Fathurrahman.

The pair released the album Tadzakkuriz Zaman (Pondering the Age), which has 10 songs with lyrics written mainly by Dang Fathurrahman in Arabic. The music is colorful and enriched by special appearances by Harry "Blueser" Pochang, Arief "Sugar Brown" Rocker and Nico "Emen".

Iwan's return to the stage was seen by 200 people who came out to witness the "return of the Dragon".

But this time Iwan is not limiting himself to music, but will also enter the world of politics.

"Bandung must be saved, we have to do something ...," he said in May when announcing his decision to run for mayor.

"Once he starts, he will move on and never surrender," said Ukok, a friend and fellow member of Wanadri.

Iwan's supporters, mainly fellow entertainers and activists, say Bandung needs a man of integrity to lead it and clean up the administration of corruption.

Iwan, at least in the eyes of his supporters, is a symbol of dedication, solidarity, honesty and "cleanliness" from money politics.

One of Iwan's songs that reflects his perseverance and hope for a better future is titled Mentari (The Sun):

The sun lights on here/in my very heart/the roaring of her fire/here in my blood/though high walls encircle me/barbed wire around me/nothing can stop you (sun)/from shining in my heart/ this day is mine/and tomorrow is still waiting/and the sun will still shine on/here in me.

The song mirrors Iwan's pledge to work hard to make Bandung a better city for everyone.