'Nepotism not widespread among city candidates'

JAKARTA (JP): A Golkar Jakarta chapter executive said yesterday nepotism could not be widespread among candidates for the City Council elections because city people were critical.

Deputy of the Council's Commission B for Economic Affairs Nitra Arayad said yesterday the appointment of a few of its 120 candidates might be based on nepotism.

"But I guarantee there is no nepotism for the rest of the candidates. The public here would immediately smell candidates selected based on family or primordial relations," Nitra said.

The General Election Institute announced Sunday the candidates from three parties: Golkar, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M., responding to accusations that many candidates were spouses or relatives of high ranking officials, said it was the candidates' abilities which were important.

Nitra said Jakartans were more politically sophisticated than in other provinces so needed more capable candidates.

When asked if Golkar's central board has pressured the city chapter to appoint its recommended members, Nitra said city chapter chairman Tadjus Sobirin was "strict" about incapable members.

"If they are recommended and capable, it's no problem," Nitra said.

Nitra quoted Tadjus, Tangerang's former regent, as saying he had asked for "God's guidance" in selecting candidates.

"He said he wasn't about to ruin the selection by taking in recommended people which did not fit our criteria," Nitra said.

He refused to say what the criteria was.

Commenting on candidates like Rugaiya Usman Wiranto, the wife of Lt. Gen. Wiranto, Commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command, Nitra said she had been a city Golkar representative since 1993.

"This is not a case of nepotism," Nitra said.

Others like Wien Ritola, the wife of Ritola Tasmaya who is the head of the city's office of the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) were picked because they were local figures, although they are unknown by the wider public, he said.

Wien, who hopes to represent East Jakarta, was selected not because of her husband "but because she was already active in the women's organization at the BKKBN office," Nitra said.

He said these local figures played a crucial role in improving Golkar's vote from 49 percent in 1987 to 54 percent in 1992.

Earlier this year a Golkar source said central board researchers presented a recruitment system based on evaluating of members.

The system was rejected because the highest scoring members were unknown and low ranking people like teachers, the source said. "Governors and regents were angry and nepotism reigned".

Nitra refused to comment on this but said candidates were better now because of the city chapter's preparation since the 1992 elections.

Only nine candidates are current city council members, three are former officials including deputy governors Idroes and R.S. Museno, while half are under 40 years old.

"The Jakarta chapter needs to promote more former officials because based on experience, pure politicians lack an understanding of government structure and various issues," Nitra said.

But he said candidates were yet to prove their abilities with regards to "sensitivity to the public and loyalty" to Golkar. (anr)