JP/5/PALU

JP/5/PALU

Clans dominate Palu politics

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post/Palu

The direct election in Palu municipality is a month away and the
mayoral hopefuls are busily preparing for the contest, meeting
with eligible voters in informal meetings.

The Palu mayoral candidates are Anwar Ponulele and his running
mate Achrul Udaya, nominated by the United Development Party
(PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB); Rusdy Mastura and
Suardin Suebo, nominated by the Golkar Party; Ali Hanafie
Ponulele and Maulidin Labalo, who were nominated by the Concern
for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB); and Taufik Tiangso and
Arena Jaya Parampasi, the nominees of the Prosperous Justice
Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Interestingly, two of the four mayoral candidates are
brothers: Anwar and Ali Hanafie Ponulele. The two are the younger
brothers of Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele.

Anwar is a former head of the Central Sulawesi Revenue Office,
and Ali Hanafie is a former secretary in the Donggala regency
administration.

Another example of keeping it all in the family is mayoral
candidate Taufik Tiangso, whose wife Mulyani Ladwan is also
running for deputy regent of Tolitoli regency, Central Sulawesi.
That election is scheduled for July 14.

If both Taufik and Mulyani win, they would be the first
husband and wife to serve as top government officials in the
province.

A political observer at Tadulako University, Irwan Waris, said
family dominance of local politics was a regrettable phenomenon.

He said the trend could set back the good governance campaign,
and could lead to increased nepotism in regency and municipal
bureaucracies.

Irwan suggested getting the public involved in fighting clan
politics. "If clan politics are allowed to dominate politics in
Central Sulawesi, I believe local government will stagnate."