'Dangdut' singer Vivi Effendy campaigns for Betawi

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Vivi Effendy, who was a famous dangdut singer in the 1970s, is the only Betawi (native resident of Jakarta) woman among the 38 Regional Representatives Council (DPD) candidates. As a native Jakartan, she fully understands the frustrations of the Betawi people, when they say that they have been sidelined by migrants to Jakarta.

In an indoor campaign on Wednesday afternoon at the Disabled School Auditorium in Cilandak, South Jakarta, she vowed to defend the interests of the Betawi community by empowering them in facing problems in the city.

"For quite a long time Betawi people suffered from (the negative attitude toward us) of people who arrived from outside Jakarta. They never really cared about us, the Betawis. We have become guests in our home," she said, followed by the applause of her supporters.

The country's 32 provinces will have four DPD members each in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), apart from the 550- member House of Representatives (DPR). DPR members are also members of the Assembly.

According to the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Betawi people account for around 28 percent of the total population of Jakarta, while Javanese people account for up to 35 percent of residents.

During her campaign, Vivi and her team educated her supporters on how to vote in the upcoming general election on April 5.

"If you can't read the names, just find a ballot paper with Ibu Vivi's picture on it," said Amiruddin Habi, a member of the candidate's success team. She was explaining this for the benefit of the many illiterate voters.