Indra Harsaputra and Suherdjoko, Surabaya/Semarang – Female leadership has reemerged as a controversial issue ahead of the East Java gubernatorial election, following the candidacy of Khofifah Indar Parawansa by the United Development Party (PPP).
During the presidential election in 2004, 15 Langitan clerics from East Java issued an edict against Megawati Soekarnoputri's candidacy, citing it was haram, or forbidden in Islam, for a woman to become president.
One of the clerics, Mas Subadar, said members of the so-called Langitan Axis had not issued an edict against female candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial election in August, but would do so during the next presidential election. "It's okay for a woman to lead at the gubernatorial level, but not at the presidential level," he told The Jakarta Post.
However, a number of PPP clerics do not agree with Khofifah's candidacy, such as Habib Abdul Qodir Al Hamid, head of PPP's Regional Executive Board.
PPP has not issued its final decision on Khofifah's candidacy due to contention from a number of PPP clerics. The Justice and Prosperity Party is rallying support for Khofifah's candidacy and gender equality in politics.
Political scientist Mohammad Asfar said almost 30 percent of the 19 million constituents in East Java followed Islam Kaffah – those who obey and trust clerics on all matters. Therefore, it would be difficult for Khofifah to win the hearts of this community.
"Gender equality issues are controversial among members of this community. A number of clerics still question whether or not a woman could become governor. So, even though her party supports her, it doesn't mean she will gain support from her constituents," Asfar told the Post.
Nevertheless, a number of parties have supported her move. Head of the Freedom Bull National Party's regional executive board Rudi Sapulete said his party and eight other parties had rallied support for Khofifah despite the controversy.
"If Khofifah is endorsed by the PPP, then she has met the minimum requirement of 15 percent to contest the election," Rudi told the media Monday.
The electorate is more rational and is no longer easily influenced by the views of religious and political leaders, according to the results of a recent independent survey, said Agnes Tuti Rumiati, the head of the Regional Potential Development Research Unit at the Institute of Technology, Surabaya, Nov. 10.
"The number of ballots cast by male and female voters in the previous presidential election proved Megawati surpassed Wiranto. This shows the edict by the clerics was ineffective in influencing the public," Agnes said.
In Semarang, members of the Central Java General Elections Commission were surprised Monday when two men, Sri Susaid and Sujianto, arrived at register themselves as independent gubernatorial candidates despite the absence of a ruling on independent candidacy.
Sri, 50, said he and Sujianto were supported by 1.5 million constituents. "If you want proof, we have 1.5 million copies of identity cards in our car," he said.
Sri said he worked as a civil servant in Pati regency, while Sujianto was a scrap entrepreneur from Pengkol village, Tenang district, Sragen regency. "I wish to register myself as an independent candidate," Sri told KPUD head Fitriyah, who was accompanied by two commission members.
Despite a favorable ruling in the independent candidates' case by the Constitutional Court, the law could not yet be implemented. "We cannot serve independent candidates yet due to a lack of guidelines," said Fitriyah.
The gubernational election in Central Java is scheduled for June, 2008.