Candidates vow broad improvements for residents

People’s welfare, education and other issues concerning residents in South Tangerang municipality were the most popular issues mentioned by candidates running for the historic mayoral election in the newly established municipality.

Pair Yayat Sudradjat and Norodom Sukarno pledged that they would work to improve people’s welfare.

“We will develop South Tangerang for the sake of people’s welfare,” Yayat said recently at the council building.

Yayat also said he would strive for cheaper education aside from the cash support provided to residents whose family members had passed away and free services for civil registrations.

“We will do our best,” Yayat said.

Yayat’s contenders, Rodiah Najibah and Sulaeman Yasin, highlighted the issue of access to education for all residents.

“There are still many children from low-income families who can not go to school because of the education fees,” Rodiah said.

He also stressed the need to improve the municipality’s infrastructure and carry out administrative reforms.

Both the Yayat-Norodom and Rodiah-Sulaeman pairs are candidates nominated by groups of residents and are not affiliated with any political parties.

Another pair, Arsid and Andre Taulani, quoted several trendy buzzwords in their campaign.

“We want sustainable development with an environmentally friendly vision, as well as democratic and clean governance,” Arsid said.

Arsid is also known as professional comedian, and was nominated by the small United Development Party (PPP), People’s Conscience Party (Hanura), Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Party and Crescent Star Party (PBB).

The pair promised to improve the quality of human resources and access to public services.

Meanwhile, Airin Rachmi Diany and Benyamin Davnie — backed by heavyweight parties including the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) — campaigned for better living city for all residents.

“We will focus on developing South Tangerang as a home for all residents by prioritizing basic programs such as education, health and poverty alleviation,” Airin said.

South Tangerang municipal council speaker Bambang P. Rachmadi called on all candidates to help keep their supporters away from possible clashes during the campaign period from Oct. 26 to Nov. 6.

He also warned civil servants not to get involved in political campaigns until election day on Nov. 13.

South Tangerang was established in 2008. It covers seven districts including Ciputat, East Ciputat, Pamulang, Pondok Aren, Serpong, North Serpong and Setu.