Mooryati says she's answering the call

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.