Up for election 2004

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 select candidates for the new Regional Representatives Council (DPD). The DPD will consist of four members from each of the 32 provinces, who together with the 550 elected members of the DPR will make up the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). This is the seventh of a 13-part series profiling the 38 Jakarta candidates for the DPD by The Jakarta Post's Bambang Nurbianto.

GERSONIUS R. SARAGIH

Candidacy number: 19
Place/date of birth: Jakarta/April 30, 1964
Education: University of Santo Thomas, the Philippines
Organizational experience:
- Jayabaya Christian Alliance - Jakarta International Louhan Club - Karya Youth Association
Past and current jobs: - Assistant general manager of PT Aiwa Indonesia
- Director of PT Hosanna Mobilindo - Marketing director of PT Grasia Media Utama Insurance - Lecturer

The DPD will be the most legitimate institution representing the people because its members will be directly elected by the voters. That is why I accepted my candidacy.

However, the current law does not give significant authority to the DPD. Lawmakers are still reluctant to hand over any of their authority to the DPD because they want to maintain the status quo.

My top priority is to get more authority for the DPD, which can be done by revising the law on the body. Next on the list is jobs creation, improved public transportation, affordable education and a solution to the annual flooding.

Jobs creation is very important. With about one million people out of work, we must attract more investors. This, however, is difficult because investors are burdened with numerous taxes. Many investors have even relocated their factories to other countries. We do not want any more companies to leave the country.

NUKMAN MUHASYIM Candidacy number: 20
Place/date of birth: Jakarta/Feb. 12, 1939
Education: Jakarta Islamic University
Organizational experience: - Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) youth group
- NU's Anshor youth wing - Betawi Assembly (Bamus Betawi) - Several political parties
Past and current jobs: - Teacher
- City councillor

If elected, my first concern will be security in the capital. The city administration has not seriously addressed this issue. People feel insecure whenever they are out on the streets, particularly at night.

The source of the problem is the administration's failure to control the high rate of urbanization. This city needs a regulation on urbanization to minimize the flow of people from other areas coming into Jakarta.

My second priority will be the empowerment of the Betawi (native Jakartans), to allow them to represent this city in many institutions, including the DPD. This is in line with Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy, which gives locals more opportunities to take an active role in development.

Law enforcement, poverty elimination and affordable education are other issues that will also be priorities. On education, the Constitution rules that the government must allocate 20 percent of the budget for this sector, but so far it has been reluctant to do so.

YETTY W. MUALIM Candidacy number: 21
Place/date of birth: Jakarta/Feb. 2, 1961
Education: University of Indonesia
Organizational experience: - Several student organizations
- Family Welfare Movement (PKK)
Past and current jobs: - Lecturer

I believe I can help people by becoming a DPD member. I have taken part in many social activities to raise funds to help the unlucky ones. Besides, I already have the support of my husband and children.

My first priority is to push the government to spend more money to resolve social problems, particularly related to orphans, the elderly and the poor. Since the economic crisis hit our country in 1997, the number of poor people has increased significantly.

I am also interested in other social problems like drug abuse and sex outside of marriage, problems that affect large numbers of our young people. This is very dangerous because young people are the future leaders of this country. I don't think our current leaders are taking sufficient action to overcome these problems.

How can we expect a better future if our potential leaders are already contaminated by drugs and degraded morals?