Biem takes first step to elevate Betawi people
Biem takes first step to elevate Betawi people
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Many were surprised at the appearance of Biem Triani Benjamin,
40, one of the four winners of the race for Regional
Representatives Council (DPD) membership in Jakarta, since his
name is not yet widely known to the public.
More surprising is that he outpolled prominent candidates like
property magnate Pontjo Sutowo and two veteran politicians --
Bambang Warih Koesoema of the Golkar Party and Aberson Marle
Sihaloho of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
But for those who knew how Bang Biem, as he is familiarly
addressed, prepared for the election, his success was not a total
surprise.
After he decided to enter the legislative election last year,
he began to work hard to introduce himself as a representative of
Betawi (Jakarta native) people, who make up 20 percent of the
capital's 8.3 million population.
It was not hard to do. After all, he is the son of the late
Betawi legend Benjamin Sueb and is a radio personality.
Exploiting his father's great name, images of Biem and Benjamin
were all over the city during the campaigning period.
But still, he did not expect too much. He targeted eighth
place among the 38 DPD candidates running in the April 5
election.
"I must admit that the great name of my late father helped me
to win DPD membership," Biem told The Jakarta Post in an
interview during the weekend.
In trying to introduce himself to the Betawi community, whom
he believed had voting potential, Biem was often seen at
gatherings of Betawi people.
Late last year, he chaired the Betawi People's Congress, a
forum to unite all organizations established for Betawi people.
He is now an executive of the Betawi Assembly (Bamus Betawi).
Pitted against nine other candidates who all claimed to
represent the Betawi people, he used the power of communication
through his Bens Radio, a station he first set up in 1989. The
station, which focuses on Betawi culture, was named in honor of
his father.
Born on March 13, 1964, Biem now controls 12 radio stations,
which he claimed were established to support the awareness and
encouragement of cultural diversity.
The youngest of the four DPD members for Jakarta, Biem's dream
is to improve the lives of Betawi people, who are stereotyped as
uneducated, lazy and poor.
"I have promised my constituents better education and
welfare ... Of course, I will cooperate with other DPD members to
achieve those objectives," he added.
Biem acknowledged his bid for the DPD was a first step in his
political career.