Clans dominate Palu politics

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

The direct election in Palu municipality is a month away and the mayoral hopefuls are busily preparing for the contest, meeting with eligible voters in informal meetings.

The Palu mayoral candidates are Anwar Ponulele and his running mate Achrul Udaya, nominated by the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB); Rusdy Mastura and Suardin Suebo, nominated by the Golkar Party; Ali Hanafie Ponulele and Maulidin Labalo, who were nominated by the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB); and Taufik Tiangso and Arena Jaya Parampasi, the nominees of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Interestingly, two of the four mayoral candidates are brothers: Anwar and Ali Hanafie Ponulele. The two are the younger brothers of Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele.

Anwar is a former head of the Central Sulawesi Revenue Office, and Ali Hanafie is a former secretary in the Donggala regency administration.

Another example of keeping it all in the family is mayoral candidate Taufik Tiangso, whose wife Mulyani Ladwan is also running for deputy regent of Tolitoli regency, Central Sulawesi. That election is scheduled for July 14.

If both Taufik and Mulyani win, they would be the first husband and wife to serve as top government officials in the province.

A political observer at Tadulako University, Irwan Waris, said family dominance of local politics was a regrettable phenomenon.

He said the trend could set back the good governance campaign, and could lead to increased nepotism in regency and municipal bureaucracies.

Irwan suggested getting the public involved in fighting clan politics. "If clan politics are allowed to dominate politics in Central Sulawesi, I believe local government will stagnate."