'There is nothing new about money politics'

'There is nothing new about money politics'

With corruption being so rampant in this country, some people
were not surprised to hear the news about the alleged money
politics behind Governor Sutiyoso's victory.

Sutamto, 49, has been working as a taxi driver for more than a
year. The former employee of a gas company resides in
Kemanggisan, West Jakarta, with his wife and five children. He
has been living in Jakarta for 32 years:

There's nothing new about money politics among high-ranking
officials in this country.

If it is true that Sutiyoso was engaged in money politics,
it's no wonder that he won the most votes. He's very rich. His
money can buy people to support him.

Money is powerful. Money can turn protesters into supporters.
Money can do anything to overcome those who dislike Sutiyoso.

So maybe it was better he bribed low-income people opposing
him to secure his tenure. Nobody would reject the donation.
Everyone living in this city is in dire need of money to survive.

However, ordinary people, such as myself, have a bad
impression of money politics. It makes us think that having a
corrupt mentality is a necessity to survive in Jakarta.

Rozak is a vendor selling cigarettes and beverages near the
Taman Anggrek shopping center in West Jakarta. He is from
Cirebon, West Java, where his two children and his wife reside.
He stays with his relatives in West Jakarta:

A comment on Sutiyoso's alleged bribery? You know, the power
blackouts in Greater Jakarta following his triumph in the
gubernatorial election was a bad omen for his second tenure.

Personally, as an ordinary citizen, I disagree with having him
as the city's governor. The city councillors have betrayed the
people by taking bribes from the candidates. They're just
traitors who don't represent the people's aspirations at all.

I'm not sure if he can make the city better in the near
future.

Abu, not his real name, 32, calls himself an amateur gigolo,
who used to be a sailor. He moved from South Sulawesi in 1995 and
now resides in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta:

I wonder why most people in Jakarta dislike Governor Sutiyoso.
Perhaps superficial observations of his performance have
generated hatred against him.

I think that he is a good and competent leader to govern the
city.

Why do people blame him for the city's lack of security? A
city is usually full of street crime, regardless of who the
governor is.

Anybody can accuse him of money politics as long as there is
strong evidence to support that allegation. If it's true, then
Sutiyoso should have stepped down.

Roni, 36, is a private driver, who lives in Kelapa Gading,
North Jakarta. He is from Cikarang, West Java, and has three
children:

I personally condemn those involved in money politics,
particularly in the recent gubernatorial race.

The city councillors and officials have set poor examples to
the people. It means they give the green light to the rotten
practices of bribery.

It would have been better for Sutiyoso to have donated his
money to low-income people who were forcibly evicted from their
homes rather than to allegedly bribe councillors.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.