SBY, JK listening to people: Campaign team
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta
Talking is easier than listening as the latter needs the sort of patience and wisdom that not all leaders possess. Accordingly, presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kala will concentrate on listening during the month- long presidential campaign to what the people want them to do, says the ticket's chief strategist.
"We are selling these figures' clean personalities and their programs by holding dialogs in urban and rural areas. We want to listen to what the people want them to do to make changes and improve their lives," M. Ma'roef, chairman of the National SBY-JK Campaign Team, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Ma'roef said the team had around 400 canvassers from three political parties that had nominated the pair. They have arranged a series of dialogs and gatherings not only with supporters of the three parties, but also with potential swing voters.
"Our strategy seems to be effective as Susilo and Kalla won support during campaigning in South Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua on the first two days of the campaign," he said.
At least 11 million people who voted for the Democratic Party (PD), Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) in the April 5 legislative election are expected to support the pairing.
"We are targeting the votes of 23 million people who did not vote during the legislative election, and swing voters in Java and the country's eastern region," said Ma'roef.
Former members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) dominate the Susilo-Kalla ticket's campaign team. "But we are also listening to civilian figures and experts," said Robik Mukav, a member of the campaign team who is responsible for information, legal matters and the campaign database.
Robik said Susilo would focus campaigning on Java as 60 percent of his voters and supporters were in Java, while Kalla would be focusing on the eastern regions -- Sulawesi, Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua.
"Susilo is sellable in Java and Sumatra, as shown in the recent legislative election while Kalla is quite popular in the eastern region. Kalla was the architect of the peace agreements in Poso and Maluku, and has promptly responded to natural disasters in the region over the last three years," he said.
Despite polls showing increasing support for the pair, the SBY-JK campaign team is not targeting a simple majority in the first round. "But we're optimistic of winning a simple majority in the second round", Robik said, referring to a likely runoff of the presidential election in September.
Profile of selected members of the Susilo-Kalla Campaign Team:
o Lt. Gen. (ret) M. Ma'roef (campaign manager/chief strategist) Known as a close Susilo aide when Susilo was coordinating minister for security and political affairs. He was chief of socio-political affairs unit of the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI, which later became the TNI) from 1995 to 1996.
o Brig. Gen. (ret) Achdari (deputy chairman) Along with Sukarno of the Democratic Party and Alwi Hamu, Jusuf Kalla's man, Achdari has designed the campaign strategy. He was deputy chief of TNI's intelligence agency (Bais) in 1994.
o Brig. Gen. (ret.) Robik Mukav (member): He has been given the job of handling public relations because of his experience as Army spokesman from 1996 to 1997.
o Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jali Yusuf (member): Jali was Susilo's partner in handling the Aceh conflict when he commanded the Iskandar Muda Military Command in Aceh in 2002- 2003. Following his retirement Jali opened a security business, and is in charge of campaign security for the Susilo-Kalla Team.