Campaign kicks off in West Lombok

Panca Nugraha ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Lombok Barat   |  Tue, 10/14/2008 10:19 AM  |  The Archipelago

Candidates running for regent and deputy regent of West Lombok presented their visions and mission statements Monday, kicking off the campaign period.

The candidates, who made their presentation before West Lombok Regency Legislative Council members, will vie for the votes of some 598,000 eligible citizens on Oct. 30.

The regency administration has allocated Rp 8.25 billion (US$835,000) for the procedure, while another Rp 4 billion has been earmarked in case of a runoff.

Most of the candidates are supported by political parties; only one pair is running an independent campaign.

Sabirin and TGH Khudori Ibrahim have been nominated by the Democratic Party (PD) and the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI); Lalu Kusnandar Anggrat and Jamhur are supported by 12 minor parties; Zaini Arony and Mahrib are backed by a coalition of the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI); Lalu Takdir Mahdi and Asrul Tsani are endorsed by the Golkar Party.

Other candidates include Isnanto Karyawan and Raden Nuna Abriadi, who are endorsed by a coalition of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Reform Star Party (PBR). Lalu Sajim Sastrawan and TGH Munajib are running as independents.

The preliminary debate was led by legislative council deputy speaker Kaharuddin, as council speaker Lalu Takdir Mahdi is running in the election.

Each candidate was given 15 minutes to present. They mostly discussed welfare, health and education issues, in a session attended by administration officials, religious and public figures and members of youth organizations. Also attending the event were officials from the West Lombok General Elections Commission (KPUD) and the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu).

Many candidates promised to further develop tourism in West Lombok by constructing better infrastructure to exploit untapped tourism potential in the regency.

Although Senggigi beach is known worldwide, the regency sits last out of nine on the Human Development Index in West Nusa Tenggara.

Sabirin and running mate Khudori, for example, said that, if elected, they would implement plans with investors from 14 countries wanting to invest in West Lombok's tourism sector.

"We can learn from Jordan, an Islamic country that has succeeded in making tourism its main economic sector," said Sabirin.

Kusnandar and running mate Jamhur promised residents they would eliminate poverty by developing housing in every region.

About 150,000 residents in West Lombok are still living under the poverty line with limited education and health access, the pair said.

Independent candidates Sajim and Munajib promised a development process based on people's participation. The pair also touched on environmental issues and promoted forest protection and management involving residents.

West Lombok KPUD chairman TGH Hasanain Juaini said the candidates had two weeks from Monday to campaign.

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