Big names vie to become DPD members next year

Big names vie to become DPD members next year

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Claiming to represent the interests of Jakarta, a number of
people including a former minister, businesspeople, activists and
also ethnic Jakartans (Betawi) joined the race to gain membership
in the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

They were among the 398 people who picked up registration
forms from the Jakarta Provincial General Election Commission
(KPUD).

The registration forms were made available for collection on
Monday July 8 and the registration period was to end this Monday,
but the General Elections Commission (KPU) extended it until July
21.

The would-be candidates, who will be directly elected by the
people next April, came from various background.

Betawi community leaders, who have taken the forms, include
chairman of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) Fadloli El Muhir,
noted Muslim female preacher Soerjani Tohir, son of the late
noted actor Benyamin S., Beni Benyamin, and former presenter of
state-run TVRI television station, Rusdi Saleh.

While national figures who have picked up the forms include
former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and several
businesspeople including Moeryati Soedibyo, Pontjo Sutowo and
Kemala Motik.

Mardi, one of the registration staff, said on Monday that
environmentalist Emmy Hafild also expressed the wish to take part
in the race but she had not picked up the form yet.

The registration form is the first step in applying for
candidacy to run for DPD membership before becoming an official
candidate.

Each province will have four representatives in the new body.
Together with the House of Representatives, DPD will form the
People's Consultative Assembly, the highest legislative body in
the country. It will be the first time for the country to apply
the bicameral system.

The DPD will have various powers, including proposing bills to
the House in connection with regional autonomy, management of
natural resources and cooperation between the regions and the
central government.

The KPU extended the registration period until July 21 as
relatively few people have taken registrations forms in the
regions due to poor dissemination of information about the
registration.

"We are happy that the registration time has been extended as
more people may join the race, " said KPUD member Riza Patria, at
its meeting on Monday.

Previously a number of urban observers and activists
criticized the KPUD for failing to dissemination information on
the registration to the people. Between July 8 and July 11, only
some 100 people had taken the forms.

The forms should be accompanied by photocopies of the identity
cards of 3,000 supporters before they are returned to the KPUD
office on Sept. 8.