Slamet Susanto and Suherdjoko, Yogyakarta/Semarang – The social status that came with the position convinced Sugiharto to put aside hunting for a regular job and run instead for Srihardono subdistrict head in Bantul, Yogyakarta.
The university graduate's campaign warchest was Rp 200 million (US$21,276), taken from his own savings and by borrowing it from his family. Although he got the job, he has yet to get his money back halfway through his six-year term in office.
Although the official pay is paltry, the position of subdistrict head is considered a potentially lucrative one, with officials entitled to use up to 10 hectares of land during their term.
He has leased out 2.9 hectares for Rp 12 million per year, supplementing his monthly allowance of Rp 152,500 from the local administration.
"It's hard to get all my money back but I was determined to become subdistrict head, not to earn money but for the social status," the 32 year old, who has a degree in economics, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The hefty campaign fund was spent on gladhanding and entertaining villagers. "Two months before voting day, my supporters began holding regular meetings. I couldn't ignore them. I provided them with meals, cigarettes and transport money," he said.
Regaining all the funds is still a long way off, and last week he joined fellow subdistrict heads in a protest in Jakarta, demanding that their terms in office be extended to 10 years. "If it's only six years, then a development project is just about to start but the time has run out," argued the father of four.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dismissed the demand, as well as one to allow them to participate in political parties.
Ani Widayani, Sumbermulyo subdistrict head in Bantul, agreed that subdistrict heads, although elected officials, should focus on serving the people and not get into playing politics.
"As subdistrict heads, we directly deal with the residents. If we take sides, what will also happen to the people," said Ani, who has been in the job for a year.
The election of a subdistrict head also provides a source of income for villagers. Purwanto, a resident of Sukaraja Kulon, Banyumas regency, Central Java, recalled that villagers were promised Rp 15,000 each to vote for a particular candidate in 1991.
"But they did not get the cash immediately, only coupons which they could exchange with money once the candidate won. At that time, Rp 15,000 was a lot," he said.
Central Java has 8,672 subdistrict heads, whose tenure has see-sawed along with regulations from changing central governments.
During the old days, it was considered a lifelong position, until a 1979 law determined the term at eight years. A 1999 law changed it to five years with the opportunity for reelection, but five years later it was set at a period of six years, again with the option to run for reelection.
Supahar, the subdistrict head in Kepuh, Nguter district, Sukoharjo regency, complained of uncertain harvests on his five hectares of land.
"Yields will only be good if there's no pests or a long drought, and the rice price is good. But if the rice price drops during harvest time, it's the same as getting nothing because production costs, especially to buy expensive fertilizers, are high," he said.
Villagers have also become more demanding, some of the subdistrict heads said, especially in seeking cash assistance from the central government's program for the needy. "If the situation goes on like this, I wouldn't mind retiring early," joked Rowandi of Kalimiru subdistrict in Purworejo regency.