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Politicians, historian eye Depok mayor position
Nurul Arifin
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Nurul Arifin. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama
Political parties and independent community groups are floating big names to test the water as each party eyes the Depok mayor's post, even though the mayoral election is still months away, slated for early next year.
Social media has been abuzz for a couple of days with familiar names, including an outgoing minister, an actress-turned-politician and a well-respected historian and activist, all of whom expressed their intention to snatch Depok's top job.
Communication and Informations Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Golkar Party politician Nurul Arifin (formerly known as an actress in the 1990s) and activist historian JJ Rizal are among the subjects of the recent talk around town.
A day after his name was floated, however, Tifatul ' who won a seat in the House of Representatives in the April elections ' shrugged off the nomination, saying he would focus on his future legislative role instead.
At lunch time on Wednesday, Nurul walked into City Hall, drawing speculation from the press corps posted to the beat.
'I have a lunch date with Mr. Deputy Governor [Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama]. I need his advice on the regional election,' she said briefly. Soon after the lunch wrapped up, the Golkar politician acknowledged that she aimed to run in the Depok election next year.
'I want his blessing to run for Depok mayor. He's my colleague at the [House] Commission II,' she said. She also jokingly praised the soon-to-be governor, saying, 'He's still as crazy as he ever was.'
Ahok, a former Golkar politician before he jumped ship to the Gerindra Party, which nominated him in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, expressed his support for his former colleague.
'Depok has been ruled by the PKS [Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party]. It is okay for Depok to be led by a Golkar leader, isn't it?' Ahok said.
He also encouraged Nurul to make use of her achievements, rather than of her popularity as a former actress, to lure votes.
'Gain their trust with good programs and a good track record, as well as a willingness to help: with empathy,' he said.
Nurul said she deliberately asked for Ahok's insights because she considered Ahok a success story. 'He has experience as a regent and now as a deputy governor. I think it is also important [to talk to him] because Depok is a satellite city to the capital,' she said.
Meanwhile, Rizal is determined to run in the Depok election, as he is actively inviting the public to join his camp as volunteers in a
Twitter campaign named #gotongroyongdepok (working together for Depok).
Rizal, who is not affiliated to any political party, said he aimed to solidify his support and establish networks, but he welcomed any political parties interested in him.
'I am open to any political party. That's why establishing networks and public support is so important, so I will have bargaining power when negotiating with them ' a lesson learned from recent presidential and Jakarta gubernatorial elections,' he told The Jakarta Post.
Rizal, a Depok resident, said he became determined to run for the post after he fell victim to mismanagement by the city.
'My house is always flooded when heavy rain falls and the flood was triggered by malfunctioning drainage. I was also once treated for months after falling from my bike because of potholes. Depok used to be a green belt, a blue city, during the Dutch era and even in the blue map laid out during the leadership of [former Jakarta governor] Ali Sadikin, but it is now a grey area,' he said.
Regional head posts have become hot items these days, with a number of local leaders managing to climb the political ladder and come into the spotlight after successfully managing their respective cities.
President-elect and Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is the ultimate success story, having successfully led the small town of Surakarta, Central Java, as the mayor between 2005 and 2012 before contesting and winning the Jakarta gubernatorial race in 2012.
Also deemed rising stars in the political arena are Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, Bogor Mayor Bima Arya and Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini.
