'Dangdut' singer Vivi Effendy campaigns for Betawi

'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.