STUCK in a Jakarta traffic jam? No worries, we have a carload of therapists and clerics who will stop by to ease your frustration during the interminable wait.
That is what Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil (pic) is promising voters in the Nov 27 regional election. He has also made fervent declarations in support of the local football team.
Other candidates are not to be outdone, with East Java’s Blitar mayoral hopeful Rijanto and his “crazy rich” businessman running mate, Beky Herdihansah, making a grand entrance by riding a Harley Davidson bike to submit their candidacy.
Their campaign team later reportedly threw 20,000 rupiah (RM6) notes into the air for voters to catch.
Campaigning for the regional election will officially begin on Sept 25, running for 60 days. For the first time, Indonesian voters will elect governors simultaneously across 37 provinces, and mayors and regents in more than 500 regencies and cities, in what is locally known as pilkada.
Ridwan, the former West Java governor and nominee of a mega coalition of 12 parties, including incoming President Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra, has sparked debate with his controversial traffic solution.
“We’ve got a programme called ‘mobil curhat’ (a vehicle to pour your heart out),” Ridwan said on a podcast.
“It’s a vehicle that will roam Jakarta with psychologists, counsellors and clerics on board. People won’t get angry as easily because they’ll have a way to address their mental health,” said the 52-year-old, better known as Kang Emil.Outside Jakarta, regional candidates are also sharpening their political knives – and emptying their pockets.
East Nusa Tenggara’s Sikka regency candidates Fransiskus Roberto Diogo and Martinus Wodon – collectively known as “Paket Romantis” (Romantic Package), a blend of their names – have vowed to promote cultural tourism, provide scholarships for high school students from low-income families, and ensure that “no citizen will be unable to receive treatment if they fall ill”.
Dr Yoes Kenawas, a research fellow at Atma Jaya Catholic University, said while populist policies seem attractive, they fail to address underlying issues, potentially leading to ineffective or counterproductive outcomes.
“Populist tactics do work to secure votes. Populist narrative and programmes are easy to digest and relatable to everyday people’s concerns. That’s why populist strategies and programmes are appealing to voters,” he said.But he warned that these policies are only good for the short term. In the long run, they could add enormous burden to the state budget. — The Straits Times/ANN
