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After 15 years, Chinese-Indonesian candidate runs again in East Manggarai race
The last time a Chinese-Indonesian ran for a legislative seat in East Manggarai was 15 years ago
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Volunteers organize ballots at local election commission office in Gololada, East Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday. At least 199,335 residents in the regency are registered to vote in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections. (The Jakarta Post/Markus Makur )
T
he upcoming general election slated for April 17 has seen few minorities running for legislative posts in East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.
Fransiskus Andi Susilo, 38, an Indonesian of Chinese descent in East Manggarai is competing for a seat on the regency legislative council from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).
Of the 389 legislative candidates nominated by 15 political parties in East Manggarai, only Andi is of Chinese descent. He represents the electoral district of Ranamese and Borong.
“I joined PSI because of [PSI chairwoman] Grace Natalie who has shown commitment in eradicating corruption and stopping intolerance in Indonesia,” Andi told The Jakarta Post at his residence on Jl. Transflores Borong.
He said the commitment was in line with the values that his parents had taught him, like honesty and doing good for others.
He also expressed commitment to developing the potential of local youths, especially in sports. He said they lacked attention from the regency administration and other related institutions.
“Youth potential in sports pushed me to run for the post. Their voices strengthened me to go ahead through the PSI,” he said.
He added that he had been a football player since 1996 and once played in the Flobamora Cup in Surabaya, East Java.
In East Manggarai, he said, the football club he supervised had triumphed in local competitions.
He added that the last time a Chinese-Indonesian ran for a legislative seat in East Manggarai was 15 years ago.
“I am running for the post because East Manggarai youths and people wanted me to do so,” he said.
