Zainal, champion of Riau development

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau

With his patience, resignation and sociability, H.M. Rusli Zai nal, the new governor of Riau has won the hearts of the province's population.

Formerly the regent of Indragiri Hilir, Riau, Zainal was elected governor of Riau province in a plenary session of the Riau provincial legislative assembly on Oct. 22, 2003 when he secured 34 votes out of a total of 55 votes contested.

Born in Mandah village in Indragiri Hilir on Dec. 3, 1957, Zainal, who will lead the province of Riau until 2008, is now the country's youngest governor.

Indeed, in his efforts to develop Riau, he is facing a great challenge. The 2000 population census shows that Riau has a population of 4.7 million people; 43.9 percent are poor and eleven percent of these poor families are categorized as very poor.

The province is also home to 45,828 neglected children. Regarding education, 32.6 percent of Riau people have never been to school.

Those who finished their elementary schooling make up 33.34 percent of the population while those who completed their junior and senior high school education account for respectively 16.9 percent and 14.3 percent of the total population.

Only 1.81 percent of Riau people have completed their tertiary education.

"This is really an irony given the rich natural resources of this province. This is a big challenge that we must tackle together at all levels of administration. I hope the heads of administrative regions across this province will team up to eradicate poverty from Riau. We have to carry on where the former governor left off," he said.

Many people felt surprised to learn of his election as Riau governor, especially because during the race for the governor's seat, he had to face his strongest rival, the then incumbent governor of Riau province, Saleh Djasit, who had been the regent of Kampar for two terms of office.

But Zainal believes the road of destiny led him to the governorship.

"It is God that has allowed me to win. Patience and resignation are the main assets for anything that a man does. My election as Riau governor is not a personal victory; rather, it is the victory of all. Let us join hands in building a better future for Riau," said Zainal, who graduated from the School of Economics, Riau University, in 1984.

Husband of Septina Primawati and the father of a child he began his political life when he joined Golkar Party and served as the treasurer of the party's Riau provincial executive board between 1990 and 1999.

Formerly general chairman of Paskibraka (a selected group of high school students assigned to hoist the red-and-white flag in a ceremony marking Indonesia's independence day anniversary at the presidential palace) for Riau between 1992 and 1995, he learned a lot about the art of politics during this time. Among journalists, who report that this governor-elect is a very open person, he is also known as an excellent lobbyist.

True to this label, Zainal, or intimately called Bang (Elder Brother) Rusli, proved his lobbying skills during the election process. As his own party did not support him as a candidate, he lobbied the United Development Party (PPP) and joined the contest with the support of PPP.

Zainal, who was once the country's best university student and served as general chairman of the Gapensi (the national contractors association) Riau chapter in 1999, attributes his election as Riau governor to some extent to the press. Thanks to the mass media, his name was publicized not only locally, but also nationally. That's why he modestly prefers not to be addressed as Bapak (Sir) by journalists.

"No. My election as governor does not necessarily mean that I have to change completely. I'm used to being addressed as Abang (elder brother) by journalists. Keep it that way. Journalists should continue to criticize me. Criticism is necessary for introspection," he said, smiling.

Touching on his main program as the new governor of Riau, Zainal, who will be installed on Nov. 22, 2003 by the home ministry, said that, in developing the province, he would prioritize the establishment of unity among the entire community.

Hot on his agenda are, among others, responding to the demands of the reform movement, upholding democracy, implementing regional autonomy and responding to the impact of globalization. "To promote the welfare of the Riau people we must first have a common perception," he told The Jakarta Post at his residence in Pekanbaru.

Zainal is the first Riau governor not to have hailed from the military or the bureaucracy.

Zainal was a local contractor before plunging into politics. Between 1997 and 1999 he was a member of the provincial legislative assembly. His election as Riau governor has aroused hope among the people of Riau that the economic condition of this province will change for the better.

During the election process, Zainal and his family faced a series of ordeals pointed at discouraging the candidate. Slanderous statements were made about him by his political foes. Local media publications, for example, carried reports discrediting him. He was even reported to have indulged in an illicit relationship with dangdut singer Iyet Bustami.

Moreover, when he was the regent of Indragiri Hilir, he was said to have spent part of the regional budget on lavishing Iyet with luxury.

This slander emerged when he made up his mind to take part in the race for Riau governor's seat. Nevertheless, Zainal remained patient and did not react to the series of reports bombarded on him and his family.

"Honestly, these character assassinations were quite a big shock for me and my family. We are just ordinary human beings. Yet we realize that they were the risk of the political game. When I was elected governor, some people involved in these (slanderous) attempts came to me to ask for forgiveness. They said they had been paid to do so for certain political purposes. I bear no grudge, though. Well, the key is that we have to be patient as God has promised He will love those who are patient," said Zainal, who has achieved a great deal for an ordinary man.