Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As of Sunday, with the opening of the official campaign period, Jakartans could look forward to be bombarded with even more advertising exhorting them to vote for Adang Daradjatun or Fauzi Bowo in the upcoming election.
The two governor candidates gave their mission speeches at the Jakarta Legislative Council on Sunday, announcing their plans for the capital should they be elected to run it.
The running candidates for the first-ever Jakarta direct election on Aug. 8 are former deputy National Police chief Adang Daradjatun and his running mate, incumbent Jakarta legislator Dani Anwar, and current Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo, backed up by Prijanto, a retired army general.
Taking an early start, Adang and Dani, who won first position on the ballot paper, arrived at the City Council at 8:15 a.m., while their rivals stepped in just minutes before the event was due to start at 10 a.m, although the council then delayed the session for an hour.
Wearing traditional Betawi costume, including the checkered sarong around their shoulders, Adang and Dani arrived in bajaj driven by actor Mat Solar, who plays a bajaj driver on TransTV's Bajaj Bajuri.
Solar and other cast members are taking part in Adang's campaign.
Fauzi and Prijanto opted for black formal Betawi suits, with a batik sarong folded around their hips.
The supporters of both candidates leapt to life at the start of the speeches, chanting slogans and shalawat, a prayer to the Prophet Muhammad.
A number of legislators, city administration executives and city-owned company heads attended the council plenary session held for the speeches, along with representatives of each candidates' supporting parties.
Adang and Dani are prioritizing poverty alleviation in their programs and hope to shape Jakarta as a business city. Fauzi and Prijanto plan to reform the bureaucracy, regarded as the source of most of the city's problems, at all administration levels.
Several local non-governmental organizations have urged people to demand political contracts with the candidates so that they cannot renege on their promises.
Council Speaker Ade Surapriatna, who spoke before the plenary session, said the new governor would have to carry out all promised programs.
Plans for the future
Fauzi-Prijanto's 19 Programs
1. To develop city facilities
2. To develop transportation systems
3. To improve security, public order and law enforcement
4. To improve access to quality education
5. To improve access to quality health services
6. To improve administration and regional autonomy
7. To empower people and officials at subdistrict administrations
8. To develop youth and sports
9. To empower women
10. To enhance city planning
11. To improve environmental control
12. To plan for infrastructure development
13. To manage housing and shelter
14. To improve the quality of cooperatives, as well as small and medium enterprises
15. To enhance people's economic level
16. To improve workforce skills
17. To improve the culture and tourism sectors
18. To improve management of the Jakarta Population and Civil Registration Agency
19. To build nation unity and domestic politics
Adang-Dani's priority programs
1. Poverty alleviation programs include improving public health services and free treatment at all third-class private and public hospitals; free-tuition from elementary to high school level; revamping slums; supporting central government low cost housing; removing the high-cost economy; creating jobs through infrastructure projects.
2. Improving the investment climate includes streamlining administrative services for the public, creating good, clean governance, ensuring security for the public, and supporting the informal sector and SMEs.
3. Infrastructure development to overcome traffic jams and floods include building an affordable public transportation system; improving busway management, introducing non-motorized transportation; controlling private vehicle growth and inner-city turnpikes; revitalizing city rivers; building integrated infrastructures for flood control and clean water supply.
