Gov candidates woo ethnic vote
Actor Rano Karno is back on TV screens, though it is not a new episode of his famous show Si Doel Anak Sekolahan, where he starred as a poor native Jakartan, or Betawi, struggling for success.Rather, it is a political advertisement. The actor, himself originally from West Sumatra, is heard saying: "As a Betawi native, I would vote for Fauzi Bowo."
The ad also features the actor who played Rano's brother-in-law on the show.
The 30-second spot for Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Fauzi Bowo signals a new front line in the television ad war: ethnicity.
Away from TV ads, this is not the first time Fauzi and Adang Daradjatun, the only other candidate in the Aug. 8 election, have attempted to woo voters based on ethnicity.
Sundanese Adang has built strong ties with West Java community groups in the capital.
He also has received political support from several West Sumatra community groups upset that the Jakarta Coalition did not tap West Sumatra native Djasri Marin as Fauzi's running mate.
Fauzi has been courting groups from North Sumatra. But as a Betawi, and head of the administration-sponsored Betawi Community Group (Bamus), his natural stronghold is among Betawi groups.
Adang, however, has for the moment secured the support of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR), one of the biggest and most prominent member of Bamus.
Forum chief Fadloli El Muhir changed his political direction to Adang just months before the candidate registration opened.
A Betawi community leader, Ridwan Saidi, said the FBR was "more militant" and had not been "co-opted" by Bamus and the administration.
"FBR has had its own will and mission since it was established in the reform era. This is also why it does not always comply with what Bamus says," he said.
Election observer M. Qodari of Indo Barometer said attempts to secure the support of ethnic groups was a pragmatic way to win votes.
"Religious issues work better, but the candidates do not want to miss any chance to get the attention of voters," he said.
He said ethnic groups could also be mobilized by candidates to support their campaigns.
"A big group will have lots of members who can be used as campaign volunteers, putting up stickers, banners and posters of candidates in every corner of the city."
Ethnic, religious breakdown of Jakarta (in percentages)
Javanese 35.2
Betawi 27.6
Sundanese 15.3
West Sumatran 3.2
Chinese-Indonesian 5.5
Others 13.2
Muslim 85.7
Catholic 4.0
Protestant 6.0
Hindu 0.3
Buddhist 3.8
Others 0.1
Total population: 7.6 million
Source: Central Statistics Agency and Jakarta Elections Commission (Adisti Sukma Sawitri)
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