Up for election

Up for election

Along with voting for political parties and legislative
candidates in the House of Representatives (DPR) and City/Regency
Council (DPRD) on April 5, voters will also pick candidates for
the new Regional Representatives Council (DPD). The DPD will have
four members from each of the 32 provinces and together with the
550 elected DPR members will make up the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR). This article is the fourth of a 13-part series on
the profiles of the 38 Jakarta candidates prepared by The Jakarta
Post's Bambang Nurbianto.

FADLOLI EL MUHIR

Candidacy number: 10

Place/date of birth: Jakarta/Feb. 15, 1961

Education: Jakarta College for Proselytizing Science

Affiliation/membership:

- Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR)

- Betawi Assembly (Bamus Betawi)

- Antiterrorist and Nonviolence movement

- Association of Islamic Students (HMI)

Past and current work:

- Owner of Islamic boarding school

- Supreme Advisory Council (DPA)

The Betawi (native Jakartan) ethnic group is actually the core
of the Jakarta population but we have little representation in
state/city institutions.

If I am elected, I will make Jakarta a safe city for all
residents and also visitors.

I really hope the government addresses the poverty eradication
program seriously because I want to see all city residents
prosperous. There are still many poor people, including the
Betawi people. As a DPD member, it will be easier for me to voice
the poor people's aspirations. I can remind the government to be
more serious in eradicating poverty.

Another issue which will occupy my attention will be fighting
against corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) which are still
a major problem not only in Jakarta but also in other regions.
The recent acquittal of Akbar (Tandjung) from corruption charges
is a clear example that fighting against KKN is not easy.

GEIS CHALIFAH

Candidacy number: 11

Place/date of birth: Jakarta/Oct. 19, 1961

Education: Jayabaya University

Affiliation/membership:

- Association of Islamic Students (HMI)

- Indonesian Student Association for International Studies

- Indonesian-Japanese fellows forum

Current work:

- Employee with a construction company

If I am elected, I will focus my attention on education and
health care issues. These two are the keys to a better future.
The state/city budget for these must be doubled.

Malaysia is a good example because it has managed to develop
its education system. Malaysia used to send their students to
Indonesia in the 1960s but now we have been left behind.

We must push the implementation of our Constitution that
requires the government to allocate 20 percent of the state
budget for education. We cannot delay this implementation if we
strive to have better human resources.

I have also been concerned about health services for the poor
in the country. Nowadays, many hospitals charge high fees for
medical treatment and the cost of medicine is also high, hence
many people are unable to afford proper health care.

MUHAMMAD RAWI

Candidacy number: 12

Place/date of birth: Bangkalan/Dec. 12, 1960

Education: Jakarta Institute of Management Studies

Affiliation/membership:

- Madurese society communication forum

- Pelopor communication forum

- Central Jakarta chapter of Indonesian Red Cross

- Subdistrict-based youth organization Karang Taruna

Past and current work:

- President Director of PT Putra Sumuragung

- Head of Mandiri Cooperative

My first target as a member of the DPD will be the revision of
the institution itself. The current law does not give significant
power to the DPD. The law says the DPD will only have the right
to propose bills but has no authority to participate in deciding
legislation although its members will be directly elected by the
people. It is unfair.

I will also give attention to numerous urban problems. I will
call on the residents to be aware that Jakarta as the capital has
diverse population. We must not only focus on the interests of a
certain ethnic group as it will cause jealousy among other ethnic
groups.

I am also concerned about other problems like poverty, traffic
congestions, unemployment and garbage disposal. The city
administration and the government have not been serious is
eradicating poverty. There are many poor people who do not
benefit from their policies.