The scions of Indonesia’s political elite are born with silver spoons in their mouths — something which smooths the way when the children of senior party members enter politics.

Hanafi Rais, the eldest son of reform icon and National Mandate Party (PAN) founder Amien Rais, is one of those lucky few.

The 30-year-old spends most of his time as lecturer and researcher at Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University.

Politics was not Hanafi’s forte until he agreed late last year to run for mayor of Yogyakarta in September’s election.

Hanafi’s candidacy is supported by none other than his daddy’s party, PAN, and is likely to be financed by PAN loyalists and businessmen close to the party, of which Amien is now the chief patron.

PAN chairman and (coordinating minister for the economy) Hatta Rajasa said Hanafi’s candidacy developed after a swell of requests from PAN members and supporters.

“Pak Amien has not forced us to support Hanafi. It was the demand of the party’s members to have him as our pick in the upcoming mayoral election,” Hatta said on the sidelines of ASEAN’s 15th annual Finance Ministers Meeting in Bali on Friday.

“Hanafi’s credentials, which show a lack of political experience, will not be a handicap in managing Yogyakarta,” he said.

Hanafi’s candidacy is also supported by the Golkar Party.

His selection as PAN’s candidate became mired in controversy after incumbent Yogyakarta mayor Herry Zudianto — also a PAN member — refused to back Hanafi.

Herry, who cannot run for a third term due to term limits, initially supported his deputy, Haryadi Suyuti, in the mayoral race.

However, PAN leaders forced Herry, who has been widely praised by Yogyakartans for his successful management of the city, to shift his support to Hanafi, who has no prior experience in politics nor in managing a bureaucracy.

Similarly, Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro Yudhoyono, the son of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the founder of the Democratic Party, was appointed the party’s secretary-general without any sweat.

Critics said the appointment was made to ensure that members of the President’s family were onboard, rather to ensure that a qualified politician was appointed to the job.

Observers said that party chairman Anas Urbaningrum’s appointed Ibas as secretary-general as a concession to Yudhoyono, who backed Anas’ rival, former presidential spokesman (and current Youth and Sports Minister) Andi Mallarangeng, in the Democratic Party’s chairman election last year.

Despite his strategic position within the party, Ibas, also a legislator, has been rarely seen attending meetings or hearings at the House of Representatives.

Roy Suryo, a Democratic Party legislator and Ibas’ colleague on House’s Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and communications, said last month that Ibas had been assigned by the party to focus on defense issues and would only show up when the commission discussed that subject.

However, Ibas was nowhere to be found when the commission held a hearing on the future of the Indonesian defense industry late last month, which was attended by, among other people, the National Police chief, the Army Chief of Staff, the defense minister and research and technology minister.

According to a source in the De-mocratic Party, who declined to be named, several party members felt that Ibas’ lack of seriousness has led to legislator Saan Mustopa, Anas’s close associate, to assume much of the work of the secretary-general.

“Saan is actually our real secretary-general,” the source said.

The Jakarta Post was unable to reach Ibas for comment. But Roy Suryo said that Ibas’ tenure as the party’s secretary-general had created stability within the party.

“I believe Mas Ibas has learned a lot of things from his role as the party’s second-in-command,” said Roy.

Popular

Government to permanently relocate 10,000 people after Ruang eruptions

Kokubo's injury time penalty save secures title for Japan

Residents fear for safety as Mount Ruang volcano erupts