M. Yamin Panca Setia

More Celebrities to Run for 2009 Election

COMEDIAN Eko Patrio more often comes to his home town, Nganjuk, East Java. He is not being homesick to meet her family. The famous actor of Ngelaba comedy program on TPI television does not comfort Nganjuk's citizen with his joke.

He need to approach people in his home town because he becomes a candidate of the House of Representatives legislative of The National Mandate Party (PAN) for Election District VIII of East Java which include Nganjuk, Madiun, Mojokerto, Jombang.

The presenter of Kiss infotainment program on Indosiar must fight to get public support. He also has to attract people to vote PAN and himself in the 2009 general election.

"I have meet with my constituent. Eko also open my house at Nganjuk," he said.

Eko is also campaigner for Hari Suci and Hartoyo in regional election to choose Nganjuk regent starting on October 23 2008.

What is Eko's reason to be a politician?

"I just do positive thing for my home town. If we want to be legislator, we shall more close to political party. Political party also shall recruit famous person be cause the 2009 election uses direct system," said the husband of artist Viona Rosalinda. According to Eko, political party believed that he can get big vote as he has a lot of fans.

Eko is one of many celebrities who turn to be politician. Eko who became amusement program at television icon must to fight get people voice and support so he can be as the member house of representative at Senayan. He also be subject to push people’s voice for PAN that can be as winner in politics competition in General Election in this country.

Eko has involved in politic arena. He not only busy at back stage and showed her self at television to amusement public with his joke.

What is Eko’s reason if he have dream to be as PAN politician?

He answer, " I ask to PAN, can I became as legislative candidate for election district VIII at Ngajuk?” he said.

Actually, Eko who have complete name Indro Purnomo Eko claimed, not only PAN that invited her to be as legislative candidate. Others party also interested to invite her.

"I got bid others politic party. But for election district DKI Jakarta. Politic party believed, I can get big support and voice people for fans. But, I won’t," said Eko who as Viona Rosalinda’s husband, beautiful artist.

Other famous artists also become legislator candidates, including Ricky Jo, Tamara Geraldine, Ronny Pangemanan (The Prosperous Peace Party/PDS), Jeremy Thomas, Tantowi Yahya, Nurul Arifin (Golkar Party), Venna Melinda, Tere, Angelina Sondakh, Adjie Massaid (Demokratic Party), Miing Bagito, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, Eddo Kondologit, Sonny Tulung (the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle/PDIP), Ratih Sanggarwati, Okky Asokawati, Feryy Irawan, Evi Tamala, Mieke Wijaya, Emilia Contessa, Marissa Haque, Kristina (The United Development Party/PPP), Gusti Randa, Anwar Fuadi, Elsa Syari (Hanura).

PAN itself has recruited about 20 artists. They are Wulan Guritno, Marini Zumarnis, Ikang Fawzi, Eka Sapta, Lucky Artadipraja, Intan Sevilla, Poppy Maretha, Irene Librawati, Derry Drajat, Adrian Maulana, Raslina Rasyidin, Tito Soemarsono, Maylaffayza, Mandra, Mara Karma, Cahyono, Krishna Mukti, and Henidar Amroe.

As the party that recruiting most artists in the 2009 election, some people satirically call PAN as the National Artists Party. PAN Chairperson Soetrisno Bachir rejected the predicate by saying that only around 20 artists among 672 legislator candidates from PAN. "They are not less than five percent," he said.

In political campaign, Bachir said, PAN used marketing approach. According to her, PAN recruited artists to answer market demand as popularity can attract people to vote.

For example, film actor Rano Karno and Dede Yusuf can win local election in Tangerang regency and West Java province.

According to a poll conducted by Indonesia Survey Institute (LSI) on September 8-20, artists popularity can defeat famous politicians. They are more potential to be chosen by Indonesia people in the legislative election next year.

LSI polling showed Deputy Chairperson of Golkar Party Agung Laksono is the most popular for legislative election with 18.5 percent respondents vote him, followed by Eko Patrio (5.6 percent), Marisa Haque (5.2 percent), Adjie Masaid (4.5 percent ), Ikang Fauzie (3.4 percent), Muhamimin Iskandar (2.9 percent), Pramono Anung (2.5 percent), Angelina Sondakh (2.4 percent), Dedi Gumelar (2.3 percent), and Nurul Arifin (2.2 percent).

The next popular figure are Anas Urbaningrum (1.9 percent), Tifatul Sembiring (1.5 percent), Lukman Saefuddin (1 percent), MS Kaban (1 percent), Zulkifli Hasan (0.6

percent), Wanda Hamidah (0.5 percent), Wulan Guritno (0.3 percent), Priyo Budi Santoso (0,2 percent) Venna Melinda (0.1 percent), and Ferry Mursidan Baldan (0.1 percent).

That polling result showed that strategy of political parties to recruit celebrities has strong base. Celebrities can attract public to vote, although most of them have no political experience and lack of capacity to be legislators.

Eko more near and meet Nganjuk's citizen cause her became as candidate legislative by The National Mandate Party (PAN) for Election District VIII (Nganjuk, Madiun, Mojokerto, Jombang), East Java.

Some people assess, PAN has changed as The Party of National Artist. But, The General Chief PAN Soetrisno Bachir rejected that accusation.

He stressed, at General Election 2009, from 672 legislative candidate who has been recruit by PAN, just about 20 candidate gets artist profession.

"They are not until five percents," he allegedly.

But, actually, Bachir understand about Indonesian’s psychology. He believed, emotional relationship and artist popularity can be support at politics bandstand. Artist which have extraordinary attractiveness, evenless becomes capital to entice people’s voice.

In politic campaign, Bachir claimed, PAN used market approach. According to her, PAN recruits artist to answer market demand. But, he added, PAN is open party.

"Moreover, artist also a people," he allegedly.

Bachir's logic became reality. The popularity of artist can be capital to got the top of politic carrier.

Dede Yusuf and Rano Karno for example. Dede as PAN politician was success became as The Vice Governor for West Java. Rano Karno that also been backed up by PAN was success sit as The Vice Regent Representative Tanggerang.

That description politic party strategy to make ready near General Election 2009. They recruit used instant mechanism methode that one of strategy got many people voice.

Eventually, artist never gets touch with politics activity. They also never involved to make good image politic party.

Less Competence

The executive director LSI Saiful Mujani concluded, that survey became as one points, if experience and competence many politician can’t be win if must to fights with other candidates that famous names.

"It polling, founded points that popularity can become more factor important than profesionality to invited lead elector behaviour," said Mujani.

He also assesses, Agung Laksono became top public option not looked by his compentency.

The public knew him cause Agung’s performs always record at mass media.

But, can artist’s popularity make parliament performance be better?

Legislation ability can not follow by instant study. Several artist who have been as legislator also can’t maximal.

Komar for example. The public knew him as comedian, not as the member of representative for Demokrat Fraction.

In the General Election 2009, several politic party such as Golkar, PAN and Demokrat used open system proportional. Parpol recruited legislative candidate by majority voice.

Therefore, Eko get more opportunities than party politic’s cadre that already involved long time at PAN.

The Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Ganjar Pranowo comment while jokes.

"If the member house of representative now called as comedian, therefore the next member is real comedian," he said and laugh.

Bachtiar Aly, Communication Expert from Indonesia University assess, at least available new task that can be done by comedian or artist if become parliament member. They can be banter or singing to comfort demostrant that often demonstration at parliament’s building.

"Demonstran won't anger, when they seen artist.”

But, Eko said, he want to share trick to be good entertainment if become legislative.

"How to be success entertainment. It also my knowledge,” he said.

According to her, politician not only expert debate or oration. He sees a politician as leader each field.

I3 years as comedian, Eko believed, can be experience and capital for his to be the member house of representative.

"Eko can bate as comedian there many emulation, it also a part of politics," he said and explained about education background as graduated from Social Science and Politics Institute (IISIP).

In democracy, anyone can be people representative if success get majority public support. But, to be legislator need more indept study at organization and politic party.

Legislation function needed more politic experience and education. A legislator needs special skill to actualize people aspiration passes policy.

Many artists involved as legislator candidate showed if politic party has been failed to transformation politic knowlagde for candre.

Siti Zuhro, politic observer from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said, from watch and interview, politic party was not maximal to give politics education function for society.

"The society learn about politic by them self," she said.

Many artist become as politician cause they aware if popularity can to pan voice from many fans.

They believed charm, style, elegance, and beauty can become magnetude to drive fans choose.

They are also confidence because they see others artist who has been success sits in the house of representative building. Others artist also success reached power sprout at governance.

Dede Yusuf and Rano Karno for example. Dede, famous film actor and Bodrek advertisment has been succes as the Vice Governor West Java.

Previously, Dede as member of Commission VII The House of Representative from PAN. Rano Karno, the actor Si Doel also success becomes the vice Regent of Tanggerang. He also got support from PAN.

Helmi Yahya, others artist who combats as Candidate Of Vice Governor, joined with Syahrial Oesman's Candidate at Governor on Election Governor South sumatra.

But, Helmi's dream to be win defeated after Alex Noerdin and Eddy Yusuf reaches 1.866.390 voice (51. 40 percents).

While Syahrial and Helmi which carried by PDIP, PKS, PPP, and another little politic party gets 1.764.370 voice (48. 60 percents).

But, people voice at South Sumatera Governor Election that support to Helmi Yahya, became realize that popularity can pan voice.

But, The Executive Director From Lingkar Madani Institute (Lima) Ray Rangkuti reminded, society does not choose legislative candidate who relies popularity.

According to her, artist just relies popularity, not experience real vision and mission.

"Artist’s popularity just built by media," he said.

Rangkuti suggested that candidate perforate society that have capital for realization six vision and missions reform.

Lili Romli, observational from Center researcher Politics and director Desk General Election and Local Election Indonesia University (UI) assess, artist becomes legislative candidate is showed party politic fail to recruit good cadre.

Politic party used instan mechanism to recruit legislative candidate.

"Politic party just wants recruit more expeditious, without wants to get tires and long time. But, try to release artist circle as prospector of voice," he clear.

He also reminds that artist don't just made by instrument by politic party as vote getter.

Lili added, instan mechanism recruit also can make party cadre mobility crucified by artist.

The cadre have gotten effort hard to raise and builds party, suddenly most sprags cause to mark sense newcomer. That can made politic party problems.

Ikang Fauzi, senior rocker at Indonesian music that becomes legislative candidate from PAN said, artist not only rely popularity.

"Where you know that artist not experience. I involved at The chamber of commerce and industry (Kadin). I also ambasador Bulan Sabit Merah Indonesia. Artist become one of alternative solution for prospective legislative members," said Marissa Haque's husband, former PDIP'S politician, but has move as candidate legislative from the United Development Party (PPP).

He added, five last year, Fauzi offered by Amien Rais, leader PAN, inputs. "But I tell Amien, I am not ready. Now I quite a ready, in mean had proceeds, studied, and sees politics life, I had proceeds."

Eko, also not perceive if he self just became parpol object exploitation to get many voice. "We are each mutually. If we want to become the legislator, we shall more closed to politic party.

Politic party also shall recrut famous person, cause The General Election 2009, used direct election system. Its mean if each other utilizes. For me. I just do positive for my native land," he said.

Artists’ involved in politic have long time. Politician also beliaved, artist popularity very effective to invite many people to present candidate campaign.

At Presidential Election 2004 for example. Dozens artist becomes campaigner one of president candidate.

Amien Rais as president candidate has came Slank's home at Kalibata, South Jakarta. Amien rakes to Slank because he know that music group have millions fanatis's fans from young men.

Wiranto also president candidate, who carried by Golkar Party visited to Dhani Home. Dhani is leader Dewa 19, at Jakarta. Megawati have other trick. The Former of President Indonesia invites artists to interview at State Palace. Meanwhile, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono make two Bimbo's songs turned around for its advertis ment campaign at television.

M. Yamin Panca Setia

Photo: Tempo