Upcoming elections fail to impress Yogyakartans
Many Yogyakartans reacted indifferently to the upcoming mayoral elections which will kick off Sunday while all preparations were completed Thursday.
Santoso, 48, a resident of Tegalturi in Giwangan district, Yogyakarta, said he was given a voter’s card but he claimed he had no information about the upcoming election.
“When’s the voting day anyway?,” he asked two pedicab drivers outside his bicycle repair shop, which is located right in front of the Yogyakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD)’s supply warehouse. He got no reply.
For the man, the most important thing is to be able to put food on the table for his family. “No matter who is elected mayor, I will continue working at my repair shop. The most important thing is to work so my family can eat,” he said.
A parking attendant, Yadi, admitted he did not know whether he would vote or not. “I’m not sure. If I don’t want to, I’ll keep parking cars here,” he said.
Some residents were uninspired by the campaign activities, which officially began Wednesday.
“This year’s campaign was not like previous elections, where people were given free T-shirts and the like,” complained pedicab driver Mirin, a resident of Tamansiswo, Yogyakarta.
He was referring to the 2004 presidential and legislative elections.
Two pairs of candidates are set to run in the elections. They are businessman Widharto and his running mate former Yogya deputy mayor Syukri Fadholi, who are endorsed by the red and white coalition, comprising the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the United Development Party and the Prosperous Justice Party.
The second pair is former Yogyakarta mayor Herry Zudianto and his running mate politician Haryadi Suyuti, who have the support of Yogya’s People’s Coalition representing Golkar Party, the Democrat Party and the National Mandate Party.
Meanwhile, head of KPUD’s logistics division, Aan Kurniasih, said all election equipment and materials, from ballot papers to voting boxes, had been distributed to the 887 polling stations across the city.
“We’ve distributed all election logistics today (Thursday), including 887 voting boxes in accordance with the number of polling stations,” she said.
The commission, she said, has prepared extra ballot papers in case any were damaged and has set up 15 special polling stations for disabled people in public places, including bus terminals and at the penitentiary.
Yogyakarta city KPUD chairman Alfin said as the campaign period was over all election posters and stickers should be removed from public places.”We started removing campaign posters last night,” he said Thursday.