(Emanual dapa loka)

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi has had no easy beginning in his life. Today, as a mayor, he strives to make life easier for the people of Bekasi, including minority groups.

His childhood hardly looked to have higher education in store, let alone a future as city mayor. In his early school years, Pepen, as he is commonly called, had to juggle studies with helping his parents with field work, peddling cigarettes and loading sand onto vehicles.

“But at the time I was determined to improve my family’s economic situation, so I did whatever I could, without complaining, and always maintained a positive attitude,” said the man who was born in Bekasi on Feb. 3, 1964.

Pepen dropped out of school several times, though he still continued his studies. His determination and optimism finally earned him a doctorate in public policy from Pasundan University in Bandung, West Java.

He discontinued his doctoral studies when he became too busy with political activity in 2006.

“When I can no longer work for the city administration, I’ll go back to the campus to devote myself to education,” said the mayor, who plays soccer and golf.

Pepen aspires to turn Bekasi into a city that appreciates local culture.

“We’ll be reaching the metropolitan stage, but our culture should remain unharmed, so that we don’t lose our identity,” he said.

He says the diverse cultural elements of Bekasi need to be preserved and residents should live in unity and harmony. Differences in faith, ethnicity and religion are God’s blessing, Pepen believes, and tolerance is required to ensure peace and security in social life.

“We should not create conflict in faith. Pluralism needs to be preserved by all citizens,” he said.

As a Muslim, he understands that Islam bestows grace on the world and everything contained therein. That is why he wants his residents to maintain and enjoy the blessings of harmony. However, it is not always that simple in reality.

“Some people make their own truth. That is their right, but the law governs citizens’ rights and obligations. So everybody must abide by the law rather than resort to anarchy, which harms others, he said.’’

Pepen says he tries to remain consistent as a public official, especially when dealing with legal issues. He cites the building permits (IMB) for St. Clara Church, North Bekasi, as an example.

He said he had issued the IMB after the church congregation met all requirements, which had been verified as well. Yet the church, which was to become the first Catholic church in north Bekasi, remains a paper project to this day, due to opposition from groups such as Forum Umat Islam (Islamic People’s Forum) and Majelis Silaturahmi Umat Islam Bekasi (Bekasi Islamic People’s Union).

The groups have staged rallies, urging the city administration to revoke the church’s building permit, claiming the church was an attempt of ‘Christianization’ in ‘a city of santri’ [Islamic boarding school students]. They also spread rumors that Santa Clara would become the largest worship building in Southeast Asia.

“Its plot of land is 6,000-square-meters and the building will be 1,300 square meters, with an open green space and auxiliary parts. How could it possibly be the largest in Southeast Asia?” the mayor asked.

Pepen maintains his stance on the issue.

“So let me affirm that when I issue a permit and it meets the legal requirements, I won’t change it, even if I’m shot in the head, unless there’s a legal order to do so,” he said.

He says he realizes it may be difficult for some residents to share his views, adding that greater attention to education may help.

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