'Money can buy people and the law itself'

'Money can buy people and the law itself'

Allegations of money politics being engaged in by city
councillors during the recent gubernatorial election have sparked
controversy among ordinary people in the city. Some of them
shared with The Jakarta Post their opinion on the matter.

Purnomo, 40, is a public minivan driver who plies the Kampung
Melayu to Pulo Gadung route in East Jakarta. He has worked as a
driver for five years to support his wife and two children and
lives at Cipinang Muara, East Jakarta:

Money is so powerful that basic common sense goes out the
window. Money can buy people, law enforcers and the law itself.

It's no wonder that Sutiyoso is alleged to have gotten
involved in money politics. He has a lot of money and can buy
whatever he wants. It's hard to believe that he was fairly
reelected.

However, let bygones be bygones, as the results clearly show
that Sutiyoso won the election. City councillors were given a
good opportunity to receive a huge sum of cash instantly. They've
seized it. They became city councillors after spending millions
of rupiah and the election, in effect, became a beneficial
opportunity for them to get a return on their investment.

If I had around two billion rupiah to spare, I'd try to become
a city councillor so that I could get a lucrative post at City
Hall. If I were a city councillor I'd put the earning of money at
the top of my list and the public interest at the bottom.

"Honorable" city councillors nowadays only think of how to get
more money instead of the welfare of the people whom they
represent.

It would be to no avail to dismiss Sutiyoso from his new post
now because money is so powerful. And, worse still, Jakarta would
remain a city with unsoluble problems.

Daud, 38, is a street vendor who sells bicycles at Jatinegara,
East Jakarta. He moved to Jakarta from Ciamis, West Java, six
years ago and now resides at Prumpung Sawah, East Jakarta, with
his wife and three children:

If the allegations regarding money politics in the
gubernatorial election are true, the city councillors and
Sutiyoso should be dismissed.

At least, those involved in bribery should have been
sanctioned or even punished.

Sutiyoso lied when he said there was no money politics in the
election. If the candidate who alleged he paid bribe money of Rp
200 million was not elected, then what about the winner? I mean,
how much did Sutiyoso pay to secure his victory? City councillors
are human beings who will instinctively choose whoever is
offering the larger bribe.

The city is in an unbearable state now as city councillors,
who should have represented the public interest, have set an
appalling example to the general public. What's the difference
between conditions under the New Order and now? Corruption,
collusion and nepotism are currently worse than ever.

I think the city needs a brave figure who would be courageous
enough to force Sutiyoso to step down. If a president could be
made to step down due to people power, why can't a governor?

Seli Puspita D., 21, is a second-year student at Persada
Indonesia University Y.A.I. in Salemba. She resides in Bintaro
with her family:

Money can buy anything, including official position, the law,
justice and even someone's life.

Sutiyoso's alleged involvement in bribery is obvious. Even an
idiot can see that the process was fundamentally flawed. It would
be totally nonsensical for him to deny it. He became an expert in
the art of money politics during his tenure. I'm sure he must
have bribed councillors and supporters to win the election,
although we cannot prove it.

Sutiyoso's wrongdoing is a bit more difficult to expose
because President Megawati Soekarnoputri has backed him as the
next governor. On the other hand, we cannot deny the fact that
she is the number one in the country.

Under such circumstances who would dare to expose him?