Harun-Farkhan see Depok as religious, competitive city

For Harun Heryana, encouraging people to practice their respective religions is a major part of human resource development.

He believes skills and intelligence are of little use without principles.

"Without strong morals, the development process is hindered. I believe the widespread corruption in the country is due to the lack of ethics of both officials and residents)," argued Harun in his recent speech before the Depok Council.

Harun promised if he was elected as mayor he would support religious practices among the community, with the support of his running mate, Farkhan Abdul Rozak. This would include organizing religious events, as well as building more worship houses and Islamic boarding schools.

Harun said his education goals included a 2010 deadline, by which all Depok children would complete junior high school. This program is in line with the central government's unsuccessful program for nine years' compulsory education.

However, Harun said if his program was successful he would set 12 years as the period of compulsory education for Depok children.

To create a skilled workforce, Haran would establish "link and match" programs between schools, universities and the business sector. Training centers for small-scale entrepreneurs would also be set up.

"The programs would reduce the unemployment rate in the municipality significantly," said Harun, who was nominated by the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Star Crescent Party (PBB), the Star Reform Party (PBR) and the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB).

Harun plans to facilitate the emergence of high-quality schools from kindergarten to high school level, which would encourage the Depok administration to upgrade the education system in the municipality.

Harun's program on urban development includes updating Depok's master plan so that the environment is better protected.

His transportation ambitions are to reduce traffic jams in Depok through the revision of public transportation routes and to improve other aspects of traffic management.

Harun promised to carry out bureaucratic reforms to bring about good governance, to improve public services, to increase regional income, to eradicate corruption and to build on the professionalism of the bureaucracy.

Harun Heryana was born in Tasikmalaya, West Java on Jan. 1, 1950 Recent education: The Institute for Administrative Science (IIP), Jakarta. Organizations: The Indonesian Civil Servants Corps (Korpri), Bogor's chapter of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI).

Farkhan Abdul Rozak was born in Yogyakarta, July 7, 1952 Recent education: The College for Industrial Management in 1986, Jakarta. Organizations: Depok chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), and the Depok chapter of Muhammadiyah