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

'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