'I am not familiar with candidates'

For the first time voters will select candidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), which will consist of four members from each of the 32 provinces. The elected representatives, together with the 550 elected members of the House of Representatives, will make up the People's Consultative Assembly. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents on how well they knew the candidates and the task the legislators have ahead of them.

Amin, 40 plus, is an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver in Palmerah Selatan, Kebayoran Lama, where he also lives with his family:

I don't know any of the candidates from Jakarta for the council. But they must be someone rich or businesspeople. I don't even know what their plans are because they never come and talk to us.

I will vote on election day but I am confused about who I should vote for because I have never heard of them.

I don't think the political parties running in the elections are good either because they don't keep their promises. In their campaigns, they always claim they defend the common people or work for the welfare of the people. But we don't see any of that after they get what they were campaigning for.

Indah Marlinda, 22, is a student at a state university in Depok. She lives in Cimanggis, South Jakarta:

I don't know anything about the DPD because I think there is a lack of information about what the institution is. I don't know what the function of the council members is.

Do DPD candidates join the general election as legislative candidates or not? I can only guess since I don't know anything about them. I only see posters and banners, telling us to vote for a certain person, but they never explain about the DPD itself.

I think I won't exercise my right to vote in the next election. I only know some of the candidates and I think their credibility is questionable. It is better not to vote, then.

--The Jakarta Post