Over 570 struggle for four seats in DPD
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Over 570 Jakartans are to compete for four vacant seats to represent the city's 8.6 million residents at the planned 120- member Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in a legislative election scheduled for April 3 next year.
Monday was the last day for potential candidates to pick up registration forms for DPD membership, after the time frame was extended for a week from the original deadline of July 8 to July 14.
The council's members will represent the country's 30 provinces, each of which will send four representatives.
"So far, there have been about 570 people who have picked up registration forms. We are still waiting for others until midnight," chairman of the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) M. Taufik told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Noted figures who have taken registration forms included former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, environmentalist Emmy Hafild, former student activist Hariman Siregar, chairman of the Government Watch (Gowa) Farid Faqih, automotive racer Helmy Sungkar and several businesspeople such as Mooryati Soedibyo, Pontjo Sutowo, Kemala Motik and Abdullah Rusli Biki.
Several Betawi (native Jakartans) figures, such as chairman of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) Fadloli El Muhir, Muslim female preacher Soerjani Tohir, late actor Benyamin Sueb's son, Beni Benyamin, and an executive of the Betawi Assembly (Bamus Betawi) Rusdi Saleh, have also joined the race.
Taufik estimated that only around 70 of those who had picked up the forms would pass the verification test and be eligible for the election. Each candidate must have at least 3,000 copies of the identity cards of their supporters.
"It is not easy to gather 3,000 supporters," Taufik said, adding that the KPUD would confirm each supporter directly.
The forms and 3,000 ID copies should be submitted to the KPUD office on Sept. 8 at the latest, and the verification of the contestants, who must be individuals -- not representing political parties -- is expected to be completed in late December.
The planned DPD will be the first Regional Representatives Council to be elected directly by the people. Members of the incumbent Regional Representatives Faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the highest legislative body, were appointed by the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD I).
The responsibilities of the new DPD will include formulating bills related to regional autonomy, management of natural resources and liaising between local administrations and the central government.