Voters want better pay and peace

Tue, 04/15/2008 11:40 AM  |  The Archipelago

Yunus Saragih, 42, civil servant at the North Sumatra provincial administration living in Sei Semayang, Deli Serdang regency.

"I've worked as a civil servant at the provincial administration for 22 years and am now ranked at the IIIA echelon level. I hope the elected governor will increase our salary and work standards because the pay I've been getting is just enough to pay off my monthly debts. Conditions are very difficult now. The government often pays our salaries late, including our incentives."

Briliant Mukhtar, 43, entrepreneur residing in Medan.

"The election campaigns have taken place successfully. I hope the candidates accept the results, regardless of winning or losing, in order to prevent chaos. I really hope every candidate and political party fosters peace."

Khairil Lubis, 24, technical school student at the University of North Sumatra.

"My friends and I have been listening to the promises made by the gubernatorial candidates during their campaigns, some of whom have promised free education. We will demand the elected governor realize the promises he has made. How can the children of this country learn if the cost of education is so high? The governor-elect should prioritize education in the province. Failing that, he should step down."

Asmah, 48, housewife with two children, living in Sunggal district, Deli Serdang regency.

"Our lives are harsh now; everything is expensive because prices of basic necessities are rising. I often borrow money to buy food because my husband is a construction worker and his wage is very low. I hope the elected governor could understand people's suffering and lower the prices of basic needs. Such a leader is hard to come by these days. Most of them like to make themselves rich and not think about others' suffering."

Zulfan, 39, a motorized pedicab driver in Medan.

"I recognize all the gubernatorial candidates from posters and banners hung across the city, but I will not vote for any of them because none of them would pay attention to the fate of the people. As proof, we are always changing governors but our lives are still the same. Hopefully, the new governor will be different."

Posmen Sijabat, 60, a retired civil servant and informal leader in Pematang Siantar.

"Most people have remained apathetic of the governor race and don't see its relevance to our daily lives. How can we pin our hope on one party when the Simalungun regent and the Pematanng Siantar mayor, the two closest regional-level officials, pay no attention to their people?"

"I am very disappointed with the Siantar mayor contesting the race since he is still serving two years of his five-year tenure. He shows he wants to escape his own political contract to seek more power with his apparent target of contesting the 2014 presidential race. I pray to God to remind him of his moral and political responsibility to serve the people in the municipality."

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