Gamblers hope to beat the odds in Lampung mayoral election

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Metro

As many Metro residents in Lampung went to the polls on Monday, others were more concerned with the outcome of the mayoral election from the gambling perspective.

A week ahead of the election, most of the money was being placed on the Mozes Herman-Darsono ticket (nominated by the Democratic Party and other small parties), and the Lukman Hakim- Djohan ticket (nominated by the National Mandate Party and others). Mozes is the outgoing Metro mayor, while Lukman is the outgoing deputy mayor.

These two tickets, out of total of four tickets contesting the election, took most of the money as they were both supported by big parties. Moreover, Lukman is Javanese -- an advantage considering that 75 percent of Metro residents are of Javanese descent. Likewise, Mozes selected Darsono, the former head of Metro subdistrict, who is also Javanese.

Ever eager for a betting coup, many of the gamblers have evolved into something akin to political pundits.

Supriyanto, a 35-year-old from Kauman subdistrict, put his money on the Ahmad Dariyus-Zakaria ticket, which he regards as "the dark horse" in the race.

"Mozes and Lukman are neck and neck. The tightness of their race could boost Dariyus' chances," said Supriyanto, while admitting that not much money had been placed on Dariyus.

"But in Kauman subdistrict, one bookie's courier took a bet worth Rp 25 million (US$2,777) on Dariyus. In West Hadimulyo subdistrict, a trader bet his motorcycle on a Zakaria victory," Supriyanto said.

Darlian Sukri, who has backed Lukman, said most gambling men had put their money on the Lukman-Djohan and Mozes-Darsono tickets, adding that the players did not only come from Metro but also from as far afield as Central Lampung and Bandarlampung. They usually placed their bets through couriers.

"This is not a sort of draw or lottery. It's winner take all, with the winnings ranging from Rp 1 million to hundreds of millions," Darlian said, adding that some die-hard Metro gamblers had even bet their cars.

Yohanson, a 19-year-old bookie's courier from Yosodadi in East Metro, claimed that he had taken a bet of Rp 5 million.

"My job was to find someone willing to place a bet of at least Rp 5 million," he said, adding that the gambler was backing Lukman Hakim. "Whether he wins or not, I still get a tip of Rp 200,000," Yohanson said.

Yulianto, from Polos subdistrict in Metro, said that he and a friend had placed a bet amounting to the price of the latest model Kijang minivan, plus another Rp 100 million.

The bookie's couriers work all around the city, usually at night, as part of an efficient and well-planned operation.

Yulianto said that when he was offered the opportunity of placing a bet, the courier refused to reveal the name and address of the bookie.

"The courier said he would take us to him after we produced the money," Yulianto said.

A sociologist from Bandarlampung University, Jauhari Zaelani, said he did not find the widespread gambling surprising. "We can see that people in Javanese farming villages also bet during the election of village heads," Zaelani said.