Mooryati says she's answering the call
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Mooryati Soedibyo, the 75-year-old cosmetics queen, is ready to assume her seat on the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) as the top vote-getter in Jakarta, according to data released by the General Elections Commission (KPU).
Although the ballot counting is not yet complete, Mooryati look set to fill one of the four DPD seats available for Jakarta.
Having been a businesswoman for more than 30 years, Mooryati made a sharp turn into politics by nominating herself as a DPD candidate.
"It is a calling for me to do something to fix this country's problems, especially in Jakarta, since I feel I am a Jakartan although I originally came from Central Java," Mooryati told The Jakarta Post at her office in South Jakarta.
When asked why she chose to run for the DPD, which requires members not to be affiliated with any political parties, rather than seeking a seat in the legislature as a member of a party, she said being a DPD member would allow her to be more independent in representing the people.
"If I joined a political party, I would have to follow the party's mission and vision, which somehow would put restrictions on what I want to do," she said.
Vowing to tackle such issues as women's empowerment, domestic violence, health care and free education for women and children, poverty and flooding, Mooryati has so far won 442,006 of 4,238,036 votes.
"Most of my voters are from East Jakarta, where my cosmetics factory is located. I obtained about 400,000 votes there, although I only employ approximately 4,000 workers. Approximately 70 percent of my voters are women.
"I am glad that many people have chosen me and support me. I am glad to represent them and I hope I can do the best for this city," said Mooryati.
She acknowledged that being well-known had its advantages during campaigning, because many people had already seen her on television or read about her in newspapers.
"If someone is well known, it is easier to pick up votes. Maybe there are smarter people out there, but a well-known person will win," she said, pointing to the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former U.S. president Ronald Reagan.
Thirty-eight DPD candidates in Jakarta were competing for four seats, despite the fact that the DPD does not carry a great deal of power in the government.
The council only has the right to propose and discuss with the House of Representatives and to put forward opinions in the case of bills on the state budget, taxation, education and religion. But Mooryati said that she and the DPD members from the other 33 provinces would fight to give the council more authority than it currently wields.