'Party flags, posters make Jakarta messier'
In conjunction with the election campaign period, the 24 political parties began putting up their flags and posters all over the city. Various shapes, sizes and colors in overwhelming abundance now adorn the city, however, it has given the city an even less orderly look than normal. The Jakarta Post talked to few Jakarta residents for their thoughts.
Adrianus Kwinta, 35, is a magazine sales executive. He lives with his wife in Kelapa Dua, West Jakarta:
The city is so messy right now because of so many banners, pamphlets and flags strung up everywhere with all the different political parties' logos. Instead of giving clear information to the people, such a mess just confuses everyone.
It seems that the campaign is sort of out of hand and pretty annoying. I felt disturbed recently when I went to an entertainment center and I discovered many pamphlets distributed there. Some parties even have placed their paraphernalia at the zoo. It's ridiculous. Do they think animals can understand all their campaign stuff?
I don't like the way elections are done here, not even this year's as it's just the same as previous elections.
Helena Simatupang, 30, is a bank employee in Central Jakarta. She lives in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta:
Everything is fine so far. I don't think posters and banners along the roads have made Jakarta any uglier.
However, I wonder why only the big parties' have their stuff hanging everywhere, dominating the city's streets. Maybe, it is because they have more money to fund their campaign compared to new or small parties.
Even though I don't really mind the mess, these mass rallies and convoys of political party gangs are quite annoying. They only worsen the traffic jams on the city streets, no civic education is involved.
But I find something interesting from the parties' ads on TV and radio. Their statements or their so-called vision and mission are simply monotonous and boring. So, I just hurriedly change the channel when I see a political ad.
-- The Jakarta Post