Governor candidates seek support

Ahmad Junaidi The Jakarta Post Jakarta

With the gubernatorial election just four months away, candidates for the post of city governor have already begun to seek support for their campaign, while their supporters have reportedly made efforts to tarnish the reputations of their rivals.

A reliable source at City Hall revealed on Friday that two strong candidates, the current deputy governor for Social Welfare Affairs Djailani and City Secretary Fauzi Bowo have recently invited some city councillors to their homes to ask for support.

"The councillors promised to support the candidates although their factions have their own candidates," the source said.

Fauzi, a German-trained engineer, invited councillors to his residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, while Djailani, a retired army major general and medical doctor, met councillors at his home in Grogol, West Jakarta.

Both Fauzi and Djailani are supported by the Native Jakartans Association.

Councillor Tjuk Sudono from the National Mandate Party (PAN) admitted having met Fauzi. "But it doesn't mean that I support him," he said on Friday.

PAN announced on Thursday that it would only nominate its candidate, city chapter chairman Daniel Abdullah Sani.

Some PAN councillors regretted the nomination of Daniel, a businessman, for his lack of vision on Jakarta's current problems. Daniel, of Padang-West Sumatra origin, remains relatively unknown by Jakartans

Candidates and their supporters have already begun to tarnish the reputation of their rivals as part of their campaign.

Djailani's supporters labeled Fauzi a "fake Betawi" since his father was from East Java. Fauzi got his Betawi blood from his mother.

But Fauzi's supporters claim he has contributed a lot to Betawi groups, and said that Djailani had given them nothing.

It is also believed that Governor Sutiyoso's letter to President Megawati, which included a factual error, was intended to stir up political controversy.

The letter said Sutiyoso's term would end on Oct. 31, even though it actually ends on Oct. 6.

"It's still unclear who wrote the letter. It's almost unbelievable that such a short letter could carry a mistake, unless it was intentional," the source said.

Sutiyoso has stated his readiness to be reelected.

The gubernatorial election will be decided by the city's 83 councillors. It will be determined by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which has 30 seats, PAN (13 seats), the United Development Party (PPP, 12 seats) and the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction (nine seats), the National Awakening Party (three seats) and several other parties that have one seat each.

I-box:

Candidates Party factions/supporters

Roy BB. Janis PDI Perjuangan

Tarmidi Suhardjo PDI Perjuangan

Djailani PAN, TNI and small factions

Fauzi Bowo PAN, PPP and Golkar

Sutiyoso TNI, PPP, PDI Perjuangan

Edy Waluyo TNI and small factions

Daniel Abdullah Sani PAN

Harun Alrasyid Golkar

Mahfud Jailani United Party

Nursyahbani Katjasungkana PKB