Poor campaign turnouts big headaches for candidates

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung

Candidates for mayor Sjachrazad Z.P. and deputy mayor Rudy Syawal were surely disappointed when 2,000 people turned up at their election rally last Friday, as they had earlier declared there would be 20,000.

The rally, held in a field in Bandarlampung, marked the first day of their election campaign.

Most of those present were Golkar Party members and their families.

Despite the poor turnout, Sjachrazad addressed the crowd with enthusiasm. "I am counting on you for my election as mayor for the 2005 to 2010 term. I can assure you of progression in Bandarlampung," said former Bandarlampung municipal secretary Sjachrazad.

Hundreds of pedicab drivers were seen at the event, but after obtaining T-shirts bearing the likeness of the pair, they returned to work.

"Not bad. We now have T-shirts to change into," said Parjiman, 27, a pedicab driver who usually waits for passengers around Saburai Field.

A poor turnout was also noticed in another place on the same day organized by nominees from the Democratic Party Nuril Hakim and Zamzani Yasin.

Only 1,500 people attended the campaign in the parking lot at No. 38, Jl. Yos Sudarso.

Pedicab driver Syahrudin, whose usually waits for passengers at the Tugu market, said he was tired of listening to candidates' promises.

"Take, for instance, the last elections when every candidate vowed to improve social welfare. We have, in fact, been further burdened by the fuel price increase as the prices of basic goods have soared," said Syahrudin.

He acknowledged that he would accept a T-shirt from any candidate, but did not trust a single one of them.

"I have six T-shirts from six candidates already. If they want to give me money, I'll accept that too," said Syahrudin.

Poor election campaign turnouts have not just been reported in Bandarlampung but in South Lampung, East Lampung, Way Kanan and Metro.

No more than 400 people turned up at the fourth-day campaign event of candidates for regent Fadhil Hakim and deputy regent Emi Sunarsih in Kalianda, South Lampung. This was in spite of the presence of Lampung's Malay music band, the Sindy Group, famed for its provocative dance routines.

Rallies are likely to be more lively if candidates invite dangdut singers or famous Muslim preachers to entertain the crowd. In Bandarlampung, around 3,000 people turned up when candidates for mayor Irfan Nuranda Djafar and deputy mayor Kuswandi invited Yuke of the AFI TV talent show to sing.

In East Lampung, after four days of quiet campaigning, candidates for regent Mawardi Harirama and deputy regent Amin Tohari employed dangdut singers Ine Cyntia and Solid AG to put in an appearance at the Sekampung field, attracting 4,000 people.

Aware that people's interest in attending rallies has lessened since last year, many candidates have been spotted at traditional markets and campaigning door-to-door over the last three days.

Besides chatting with traders and customers, they have also distributed stickers and posters.

Ari Darmastuti, a social observer, said the public was sick of campaigns. People, he said, would only turn up if they thought there was something in it for them.