Rasdullah, governor for the poor

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.