Golkar 'cowboy' heavily favored in Lampung poll

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung

Wearing a cowboy hat and black sunglasses, a man in his 50s holds a little boy for a group of journalists to see. The next morning, the picture of the little village boy and the cowboy was then splashed on all the tabloids across Lampung province.

It was only one among many efforts by the suave cowboy-wannabe to win the hearts and minds of South Lampung regency. The man often visited other remote vilages and slums in the regency, thus creating an image that he is close to the people. The latest example was during a big flood in Gebang and Hurun subdistrict in Padangcermin district in March this year. Shortly after the report that the subdistricts were inundated by water, Zulkifli toured the areas and gave out 4,000 packs of instant noodles and 100 bottles of drinking water.

"I will remain here and help them. I have already loved South Lampung people and they have become parts of my life," Zulkifli claimed recently.

The man in question, who is seeking reelection this year, is Zulkifli Anwar, the former Regent of South Lampung. Zulkifli completed his five-year term in March and he will again try his luck during South Lampung regent election on June 27.

He has been nominated by the mighty Golkar Party along with the Democrat Party, the National Awakening Party and other small parties.

The chief of Golkar's Lampung chapter, Alzier Dianis Thabranie, said that Golkar nominated Zulkifli because he was a "true populist". Whether his style is a bit contrived or genuine is not clear, but many analysts in the regency opined that it will be the key to helping him win the direct regional election, where people will vote directly for local leaders.

According to Jauhari Zailani, a political observer from Bandarlampung University, Zulkifli was heavily favored anyway just for the fact that he is the incumbent regent. The incumbent has many advantages compared to the new entrants.

As he is a former regent, people will be much more familiar with him. He also has had more opportunities to "win the favor" of bureaucrats and other politicians as he has worked with them for five years, Jauhari astutely concluded.

"Moreover he is a populist person. Being a populist, his weaknesses will be covered up and it will be crucial to help him win the election. It is also fortunate for him that the Lampung media has created an image that he is a populist regent," said Jauhari.

The last factor that would help him succeed in the election was the support from Golkar, the lead party that nominated him in the election.

"Golkar has the political infrastructure spanning every subdistrict in the regency. They are a strong and effective political machine. This factor should not belittled," claimed Jauhari.

In the direct election on June 27, Zulkifli, who has chosen Wendy Melfa as his running mate, will be competing with against Muchtar Husin and running mate Maryanto, who were nominated by the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP), The Kiswoto-Gufron Azis Fuadi team was nominated by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Reform Star Party (PBR), Fadhil Hakim and Emy Sunarsih by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Syakhrul Akhwan and Fathurrohman were nominated by the Indonesian National Party-Marhaenism and other small parties.