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The cost of running in the legislative race
As the general elections approach, candidates reach deeper into their wallets to pay for their best shot at becoming most popular
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As the general elections approach, candidates reach deeper into their wallets to pay for their best shot at becoming most popular.
Some candidates say every dime spent on the campaign is worth it. One says it was a sacrifice to be made for the sake of the people, while another bluntly says every cent equals a vote.
Take Sonni Gondokusumo, a candidate for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), for example.
The 47-year-old who says he once shared a classroom with US President Barack Obama has spent Rp 70 million (US$5,800) on field trips, banners, stickers, calendars and other campaign tidbits.
"I have spent Rp 70 million since I began campaigning in July," he says.
Sonni estimates that he will spend at least another Rp 100 million of his savings before the DPD election final.
He says, however, he does not mind spending that much money.
"Even if I do not get elected as a member of the DPD, I will at least figure out the number of people supporting me.
"I can then sell those votes to presidential candidates. And if the candidate wins, I will get something in return - a position in the Cabinet or a state-owned enterprise, at least," he says.
"Politics equals power. What is most important is to get the power first," Sonni says.
Sonni has resigned from his position as a lawyer to fulfil the requirements to be a legislative nominee. He now works for his wife, a notary.
Another legislative candidate, Marwan Zainuddin, 35, who is a member of the Functional Party of Struggle (PKP), says every dime he has spent is a sacrifice he is willing to make for the sake of his people.
Besides hoisting his political party's flag and distributing as much as 30,000 stickers among his supporters in villages in Sukabumi, West Java, Marwan says he has also advertised his candidacy in local newspapers.
He has spent about Rp 50 million since November, when he began campaigning, conducting field trips back and forth between Jakarta and Sukabumi.
Marwan, who is convinced he is able to win a House of Representatives seat, estimates that his expenses will reach up to Rp 150 million.
"It is the consequence of my party's struggle," he says.
He has also sacrificed some family time.
The candidate will leave Jakarta in February to live in Sukabumi until the end of the general elections, leaving his wife and children behind.
Marwan says he believes the public are better informed about politics nowadays.
"I realize that meeting people face-to-face, greeting them, shaking their hands and listening to their needs is more effective than distributing banners," he says.
"That's why I prefer to stay in my electoral district."
The race is heating up, and pictures of candidates on banners, billboards and stickers are scattered all around the capital.
Head of the city public order agency Haryanto Badjuri says that since July last year his officials have cleared some 30,000 campaign materials in and around the five municipalities of Jakarta.
Under the 2008 law on general elections, candidates and parties are forbidden to erect campaign banners and host party flags along main roads and green lanes, at public parks, places of worship, hospitals, schools and state-owned offices.
Last Wednesday, the agency confiscated over 3,927 flags and banners throughout Jakarta.
"The flags and banners degrade the city's aesthetics," says Lantip, head of the East Jakarta public order agency.
