Education to top priority in Depok

Education to top priority in Depok

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.