Rasdullah, governor for the poor

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

He is an ordinary man, like many other Indonesians. Looking at his physical appearance, there is nothing really special about him. But some things do set him apart. While most of the other Jakarta gubernatorial candidates ride around in luxury cars, this man arrives at the City Council building on a public bus.

And the way he campaigns and sells his programs is very convincing, much more so than other candidates. Which is quite remarkable considering that when not running for governor, he is a becak (pedicab) driver.

"I will make Jakarta a friendlier city for the poor. I will also allow becak drivers to operate in certain areas of the city," says Rasdullah, one of 68 gubernatorial candidates.

The father of four says becak must be allowed to operate in residential areas that cannot be reached by public transportation, for the benefit of the residents.

Jakarta Bylaw No. 11/1988 on public order bans pedicabs from operating on the city's streets.

Though he is the chairman of the Jakarta Becak Drivers Union (Sebaja) -- which has about 1,500 members spread across the city's five mayoralties, except South Jakarta -- Rasdullah promises that if elected governor he will not limit himself to improving the situation for becak drivers.

"I won't only care about the becak drivers, but for all the people living in Jakarta, the rich and the poor. If I'm elected governor, I will have a large staff and I will ask them to perform their jobs in taking care of Jakartans, particularly the poor."

He was elected chairman of Sebaja two years ago, largely for his success in organizing the pedicab drivers in North Jakarta so they could work without disturbing public order.

Despite his lack of experience in the bureaucracy, Rasdullah believes a clean and honest governor is needed to improve Jakarta and to prevent administration officials from getting involved in corruption.

Rasdullah filled in a wealth form as required for gubernatorial candidates, listing only a becak valued at Rp 850,000 (US$97.70).

Compare this to the incumbent governor, Sutiyoso, whose declared wealth reaches Rp 15 billion, or City Secretary Fauzi Bowo with Rp 17 billion.

"I may be poor but compared to the other candidates I have a conscience," he said.

Though he cannot flex the same sort of financial muscle as other candidates, Rasdullah is quite serious about the election, scheduled for Sept. 17. But he is aware that few people give him a chance, and more than a few people see his candidacy as a joke.

"I am serious about my candidacy. I am not afraid to compete against the other candidates," he said. "I am just an elementary school dropout, but Jakarta needs an honest governor more than it needs a university graduate who is dishonest."

But honesty may not be enough to become governor, as the City Council mulls over whether to reject Rasdullah's candidacy because he fails to satisfy the regulation that the governor must be at least a high school graduate.

But the lack of a formal education has not prevented Rasdullah from adding to his knowledge. The curriculum vitae he attached to his candidacy form included two pages of experience.

This included his being invited to speak at dozens of seminars and being interviewed by at least four private television stations in the last two years.

Rasdullah also took part in a four-day workshop on the Urban Poor City-Net in Bangkok last year, which was participated in by delegates from all Asian countries.

He also included a letter from Urban Poor Consortium chairwoman Wardah Hafidz stating that he should be considered the same as a high school graduate because of his experience.

Rasdullah said he would regret it if his candidacy was turned down by the committee just because he never graduated from high school.

"I have a lot of experience. I also have a letter from Ibu Wardah. They must not reject me, because I am serious about the candidacy," he said.

And should he fail to be elected governor, Rasdullah said he would turn down any offer to become Sutiyoso's vice governor, if the former Jakarta Military commander is reelected.

"I don't want to work for such of man."

He pointed out that Sutiyoso had ordered the seizure of hundreds of becak over the past two years.

Rasdullah, along with 13 fellow pedicab drivers, sued the administration over the seizures at the Central Jakarta District Court last year.

The court ruled in favor of the complainants this year, saying the seizures were illegal because they took place without regard to proper procedures. The administration is appealing the decision.

The lawsuit was backed by several non-governmental organizations, including the Urban Poor Consortium, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute and the Jakarta Residents Forum.

Born in Cirebon, West Java, 38 years ago, Rasdullah was divorced three times before marrying Warsiti five years ago. They now live in a 15-square-meter rented house on Jl. Muara Baru, Penjaringan district, North Jakarta, with their four-year-old daughter, Yuyun.

He has three other children from his previous marriages, all of whom live in Cirebon with their mothers.

Warsiti initially had doubts about her husband taking part in the election, until journalists from the print and electronic media began to flock to their small house for interviews. Since then, she has become Rasdullah's number one supporter.

Their neighbors in the slum area, most of them becak drivers, also underestimated Rasdullah initially, but now they are throwing their weight behind him. They even pray for him to be elected the next governor.