'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?