Candidates sign contract to improve education
Bambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Three of the five pairs of mayoral candidates in Depok, West Java, signed a "political contract" on Wednesday to improve education in the municipality if they get elected.
The contract, prepared by the University of Indonesia's student union, among other groups, requires whoever wins the June 26 election to commit at least 20 percent of the municipality's budget to education.
But, according to Nur Mahmudi Ismail, who has been nominated by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Depok municipality allocated Rp 115 billion (US$12.11 million), or 28 percent of its Rp 450 billion budget, on education in 2005.
"The most important point is how the money is spent to improve the quality of the education our residents receive," said Nur Mahmudi.
Aside from Nur Mahmudi, Yus Ruswandi and running mate Soetati Dipowongso of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the United Development Party (PPP), and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), and Farkhan Abdul Rozak of the National Mandate Party signed the contract after joining a debate organized by UI.
Yus also promised to provide free education to poor students by cutting the budget allocation for infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Farkhan stressed the importance of scholarships for students from low income families.
"We will ensure that all elements in society, including the poor, can enjoy a better education," said Farkhan, who is the running mate of Harun Heryana.
Apart from promising better education, the candidates also raised other issues, including corruption, good governance, social welfare and bureaucratic reforms
Farkhan also vowed to fight against pornography in the municipality.
"Pornography is a social disease in our society. We must fight against it," he added.
Nur Mahmudi, who is also former forestry minister, said the municipality could increase its budget significantly as its potential revenues were three times greater that its current budget.
He gave as an example the fact that the Depok administration could facilitate Depok residents working in Jakarta to pay income and vehicles taxes at home.
"Most income and vehicle taxes paid by Depok residents are paid in Jakarta. We can facilitate them to pay their taxes in Depok. We could thereby significantly increase our budget from taxes," he said.
The panelists in the debate, which was organized by the Indonesian Youth Movement Center (IYMC), included UI constitutional law expert Eko Prasodjo, education expert Yanuar Arief, businessmen Ibi T.G. Hasan, and UI students' union chairman Gari Primandana.
There are 899,419 eligible voters in the mayoral election, which will be held at some 2,000 polling stations on June 26.
Under Law No. 32/2005 on local government, to win an election a candidate must receive at least 25 percent of the total votes cast. If no candidate reaches the 25 percent quota in the first round of voting, the top two vote-getters will move on to a second round of voting.