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.