Former regent Syaukani proves generosity counts in reelection bid

Former regent Syaukani proves generosity counts in reelection bid

A'an Suryana and Rusman, The Jakarta Post/Kutai Kartanegara

"What do you want?" a man in his 20s asked The Jakarta Post and a
reporter from Media Indonesia daily when both newspapers were
trying to enter a villa-cum-ranch belonging to Syaukani, the
former Kutai Kartanegara Regent who is seeking reelection this
year.

The young man was one among five men guarding a small street
located in Maluhu subdistrict on the outskirts of Tenggarong.

At the time, Syaukani was meeting the press in a hotel in
Tenggarong, the capital of Kutai Kartanegara, to comment on the
regional election where he was leading the provisional vote
counting with almost 60 percent of the votes cast.

Responding to the Post's request, the young man, after
conferring with his superior, gave the order to allow our car in.

After few minutes driving up a small sealed road about a
kilometer long, the car reached an impressive wooden mansion on
high ground, where the 48-year-old politician regularly stays.

The huge compound, a least a dozen hectares in size, boasted
several luxury cottages, a helicopter pad, horse fields and a
deer stall. Two imported Australian horses stood in especially
air-conditioned barns, presumably to protect them from the
stifling Tenggarong heat.

Four golf carts are the main transport around Syaukani's
ranch, which has no high fences and borders onto less well-off
residents' houses.

"This is the evidence that Bapak (Syaukani) is close to the
people. He never wants put distance between himself and his
constituents," said a young man, one of a dozen members of a
Golkar Party paramilitary group that has helped guard the
residence since Syaukani's term ended as regent last year.

According to his supporters, it is Syaukani's money and his
popularist brand of politics that have helped the native of Kutai
Kartanegara and long-time Golkar member win the hearts and minds
of the people, especially the poor and uneducated. Residents who
lived nearby said Syaukani was close to the rank-and-file long
before he sought reelection.

"He is friendly to the common people. His door is always open
to people," said Sri, a Javanese migrant who has been living in
the regency for 14 years.

Syaukani's generosity is well-known in the regency, population
494,000. A frequent and often extravagant giver during the Muslim
Idul Fitri celebrations, he was also popular with residents on
Friday, with the Post seeing many people lined up at his house,
hoping in some way to benefit from his good fortune in the vote.

But while some people praise Syaukani for his altruism, others
question what they consider his excessive and wasteful leadership
during his 2000-2004 term.

His critics deride some of his grandiose projects for the
regency, the construction of a cable car, the resort on Kumala
island and a Sky Tower; all developments the then-regent claimed
would bring tourists into the regency and "increase pride" in the
region.

And while his generosity has led some to compare him with
Robin Hood, there is an unanswered question as to where the money
for his gifts has come from.

Many wonder how the former regent, who started his career as a
mid-level bureaucrat, managed to amass such personal wealth. They
say the skillful politician, who has dominated politics in the
regency since he was first elected in 2000, is still an
untouchable figure.

It helps that Syaukani is running for office in one of the
most resource-rich areas in the country. Autonomy status has
meant the energy-abundant regency now has the highest budget in
the East Kalimantan province and one of the highest per-
population in the nation -- Rp 2.7 trillion this year, compared
to the entire East Kalimantan provincial budget that amounts to
only Rp 6.5 trillion.

A popularist stance and a huge and expensive campaign effort
have paid off for Syaukani, who looks a sure bet to win the poll
and become the first directly elected local body leader in the
nation's history.

But doubters say he has daunting challenges to address,
including the poverty of his constituents -- 20 percent who still
live under the poverty line -- and the poor quality of education
in the region, which ranked ninth out of 13 in the province.