Indonesia Topics

They were husband and wife. But they are now divorced. Now, these 2 people have also 2 different destiny and fate. Saipul Jamil, who is well-known as a male dangdut singer, register himself to become vice-major or Serang from Unity Develompent Party (PPP). On the other, his ex-wife Dewi Persik, also a well-known dangdut singer with a little striptease skill, is now banned in different places.

Dewi Persik is now banned in South Sumatra, Depok and West Java. My question is, if Saipul Jamil later on become the vice-major of Serang, will he ban Dewi Persik his ex-wife performing his goyang-gergaji (saw dance) in his jurisdiction?

Inul Daratista and Trio Macan are also banned performing in these places.

Several quick-counts held by various institutions turn to be right. KPUD (regional general election commission) confirms that Ahmad Heryawan-Dede Yusuf (HADE) won the West Java (Jabar) election by 7,287,647 votes.

Agum Gumelar -Nu’man Abdul Hakim (AMAN) won the second place by having 6,217,557 votes. AMAN was supported by 7 parties coalition including PKB. Golkar and Democrate Party candidate H Danny Setiawan - H Iwan Sulanjana (DAI) get the last position with 4,490,901 votes.

In this election, around 27,933,259 or 37% voters did not have their votes or GOLPUT (golongan putih).

This conclude that West Javanese request the change of regime. Voters do not vote parties, they vote figures.

Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS - Justice and Prosperity Party) strikes another victory in the Pilkada (local election) race. After the victory of Ahmad Heryawan - Dede Yusuf in West Java (Jawa Barat), PKS, together with PBR and PPP, lead the Pilkada in North Sumatra (Sumut). This time is Syamsul Arifin-Gatot P turn. They defeat the coalition of big parties such as Golkar and PDIP who dominated the election in 2004.

Syamsul Arifin-Gatot P won 27-29% according to several voting institutes who conducted quick count. In most of the cases, the final of the real count will not be far away from the quick count.

Golkar is obviously in danger. They lost at least in 3 most Golkar-influence area such as Sulsel (South Sulawesi), Jabar (West Java) and Sumut (North Sumatra). WIll they still get significant votes in this nation?

As for PKS, this is a strong indication of how solid a political machine can be. Nationally, PKS only have 8% votes in 2004. From here, it is not a dream anymore to get 20% votes in 2009 and becoming the majority in the parliament. That’s their target.

Will this be the story? Of course we have to wait. There are still more populated voters based in East Java and Central Java who will have their governor election later this year.

In East Java itself, PKS haven’t made up their mind yet. Will they endorse Soenarjo-Ali Maschan (salam), Soekarwo-Syaifullah Yusuf (karsa), Khofifah Indar Parawangsa (PPP) or Achmady (PKB)? How about in smalll cities (kabupaten or kotamadya)? In Lumajang for example, PKS refuses to endorse one of the smart national and religious figure who will most likely win the Lumajang’s Bupati election Sjahrazad Masdar? Remember, in Pilkada, voters get to vote a figure, not party.

There are numbers of indication. They could be strong in nationally but PKS would have to be more worry about the damage from the grass roots.