Jakarta – Economist Faisal Basri and former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmaja have both said they will firmly oppose any sharia-based ordinances in the capital city should they be elected governor in the 2007 election.
Faisal and Sarwono spoke in a debate held Monday by campaign management group Sukses Kandidat Consultant, which was founded by former state minister for regional autonomy Ryaas Rashid.
Faisal and Sarwono, who made themselves available to the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), were the only candidates to attend the debate.
Incumbent deputy governor Fauzi Bowo, National Police deputy chief Adang Daradjatun and former transportation minister Agum Gumelar, who are all also running for election, did not respond to the invitation. Organizers would only say that the three were busy and had been unable to confirm their attendance.
During the three-hour debate, Faisal said that if he were to become Jakarta's next governor, he would not issue any sharia-based ordinances.
"It's final. (Bylaws) with Islamic sharia are not allowed," said Faisal, who was once general secretary of the National Mandate Party. "We are committed to being a secular country, and that means separating state affairs from religion," he said. He added that the state was committed to guaranteeing the right to believe in any religion.
Meanwhile, Sarwono said that according to the Constitution and the 2004 Law on Regional Autonomy, local authorities were not allowed to regulate the religious affairs of the public.
Since the passage of the regional autonomy law in 2000, 22 municipalities and regencies in Indonesia have implemented bylaws showing the influence of sharia, including stipulations on Koranic literacy among schoolchildren, obliging women to wear headscarves in public and heavy punishments for adultery, drinking and gambling.
Such laws have raised concerns about efforts to turn Indonesia into a theocratic state. The PDI-P has repeatedly said it opposes the issuance of sharia-based bylaws in various areas in Indonesia.
Faisal also said his mission was to "bring Jakarta to the gate of happiness." He also said that he would make Jakarta an inspiration for development in other areas in Indonesia and would fight corruption.
"Even though I'm a civilian candidate and do not have any military background, I can be very firm," he said. He said that he could outdo governor Sutiyoso when it came to fighting corruption. "I think Sutiyoso is not firm enough in fighting corruption," he said.
Meanwhile, Sarwono said that he would apply Jakarta's autonomy as much as possible. "Jakarta can no longer be a satellite for the central government," he said.
Poor performances from public servants also concerned him, Sarwono said. Jakarta's first-ever direct gubernatorial elections will be held July next year.
For the elections the Golkar party has planned to join forces in a coalition with the National Mandate Party, the United Development Party, the National Awakening Party and the Prosperous Peace Party. The PDI-P also raised possible plans for a coalition with other parties.