Megawati opens Malay festival
Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau
President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially opened the five-day World's Malay Cultures Festival (FBMS) on Sunday in Riau the capital of Pekanbaru, which critics blasted as a waste of money.
The Rp 4.3 billion festival is being participated in by officials and experts from only four countries -- Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. Officials had boasted that at least 17 nations from Europe and Southeast Asia would join the event.
Also present are representatives from only seven of the 20 invited provinces across the country -- North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Jambi, South Sumatra, Lampung, Bangka Belitung, Aceh and South Kalimatan.
During the ceremony, Megawati struck a gong to declare the festival open at 2:30 p.m. local time, which is scheduled to last until Aug. 7.
The President did not make a speech or any comments in the 30- minute ceremony and quickly left the venue on Jl. Gajah Mada, Pekanbaru, for the industrial island of Batam to inaugurate the Sumatra-Singapore pipeline project on Monday.
Analysts criticized the government for organizing such a costly event, saying it was only wasting state money.
Moreover, the festival contained a political motive as it is being held ahead of the gubernatorial election scheduled for October, in which incumbent Riau Governor Saleh Jasit is vying for another five-year term, they added.
Eddy Ahmad R.M., an executive of the Riau Arts Council (DKR), accused the local government of forcing itself to make the event a success despite the fact that many provinces and foreign countries shunned the festival.
He said the governor tried to politicize the festival in the interests of his campaign for reelection.
The billions of rupiah used for the festival should have been allocated to empower the economy of the Riau people, at least 46 percent of whom live below the poverty line, Eddy told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
"What is such a cultural party for if our people are still poor? It's extremely lamentable that people's money is wasted for short-term interests. I believe the festival is politically motivated as the gubernatorial election is drawing near," he added.
Eddy argued that the event was scheduled to take place last year, but was postponed several times for unexplained reasons until after the gubernatorial race was approaching.
However, Governor Jasit denied political motives behind the festival, saying it was aimed at improving the tourist industry and investment in Riau.
As part of efforts to boost tourism in the province, the Pekanbaru administration "asked" street vendors and taxi drivers to wear traditional Malay clothes.
The move was opposed by many vendors, who said they could not afford to buy such clothes.
"We are obliged to wear Malay clothes. It imposes a new burden on us. You know that such clothes are sold for Rp 150,000 per outfit. How can I afford it?" complained Ibu Indah, a corn vendor at the Purna MTQ area on Jl. Sudirman.