'I'll vote for those whom I've known for a while'

The 38 Jakarta candidates for the new Regional Representatives Council (DPD) have started campaigning across the capital, with posters, banners and floats to rouse the city. However, many city residents The Jakarta Post talked to feel such a campaign cannot effectively reach out to voters.

Indah Mulyani, 23, is a feature writer in a women's magazine whose office is located in Menteng, Central Jakarta. She lives in Salemba, also in Central Jakarta:

I know what DPD candidates I shall vote for in the upcoming general election. I have known this person because we studied at the same university. I know this person's reputation and credibility.

If I had not known this person, it would have been hard for me to choose. The banners and posters fixed to practically every corner of the street simply do not inform us about whom the DPD candidates are -- whether they are corrupt or not.

As for their functions and how DPD members will work, I only know a little from the brochures and newspaper advertisements, which I think is not enough. We should be informed more about that.

Rizka Nurmaya, 25, works as an account coordinator in a private firm located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. She lives in Tangerang:

I'm not familiar with the candidates or the DPD itself. I know what "DPD" stands for, but I've never really paid much attention to what their job really is.

I never read articles on the election, either in newspapers or magazines, because I'm just not interested in it.

Several weeks ago, I had a chat with my friends about this matter; apparently they had the same problem as I -- they don't know much about the DPD either.

Maybe, before the DPD election I will try to find out whom to vote for by reading magazines, newspapers or other publications on the candidates.

--The Jakarta Post