Meet 'cowboy' from Tegal

TEGAL, Central Java: Mayor Muhammad Zakir knows how to exploit the election campaign to improve his own popularity.

He turns up at almost every rally, whether it be run by Golkar, the United Development Party or the Indonesian Democratic Party.

To show the public that he is truly acting as "an impartial referee" as the law requires, he appears not in traditional rally apparel and accessories but is in jeans, plaid shirt, dark waistcoat and hat.

He is proud to be called "Cowboy" by the public.

"I want to appear different in every campaign," he said Thursday when journalists met him dancing with Golkar supporters. (wah/pan)