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Rano faces uphill battle to overcome Ratu Atut’s dynasty

Banten Governor Rano Karno is facing an uphill battle to extend his term in the upcoming gubernatorial election as he takes on the heir of a powerful political dynasty in the province, analysts say

Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, January 10, 2017

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Rano faces uphill battle to overcome Ratu Atut’s dynasty

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anten Governor Rano Karno is facing an uphill battle to extend his term in the upcoming gubernatorial election as he takes on the heir of a powerful political dynasty in the province, analysts say.

The former actor is running against former Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim, who has chosen the son of Ratu Atut Chosiyah, Andika Hazrumy, as his running mate.

Ratu Atut, who was dismissed by the Home Affairs Ministry after being found guilty of corruption, has been considered the leader of a political dynasty in the region.

Her clan has held a strong grip on the province’s business and political circles for years.

Her late father, Tubagus Chasan Sochib or Haji Hasan, was a widely known figure in Banten.

To fight Ratu Atut’s clan, Rano has picked Banten’s prominent public figure Embay Mulya Syarief as his running mate. With Embay, Rano seemed to be attempting to get the support of ulema (Muslim clerics) and jawara (people trained in martial arts), the two groups that hold the most powerful roles in Banten’s politics.

“Embay is a person who will likely be accepted by ulema and jawara. He is traditional but has modern knowledge,” Bahroji, the spokesman of the Rano-Embay campaign, said, adding that Embay would potentially abuse his political position for his own benefits.

Bahroji said his team was upbeat they could defeat Ratu Atut’s dynasty, not to mention Wahidin, who lost to Ratu Atut in the 2012 Banten gubernatorial election.

“Wahidin has a solid background in government, but his move in teaming up with Andika is a big mistake. Forming a political dynasty is not in line with our democracy.”

Another spokesman, Boni Triana, said that with Rano and Embay, the team wanted to end the belief that one must team up with a member of a political dynasty to win an election in the province.

There are two major political dynasties in Banten, Atut’s clan and the family of former Lebak regent, Mulyadi Jayabaya. However, the former are considered more powerful, with members holding positions in municipal and regental administrations and legislative councils throughout the province.

Ratu Atut was elected as deputy Banten governor in 2002, and then became acting governor in 2005 after then governor Djoko Munandar was suspended for alleged graft.

In 2007, she became the first woman to win a gubernatorial race in the country. Until her downfall at the end of 2013, Ratu Atut had built a political dynasty with one after another of her relatives taking strategic political positions in the province.

The clan remained powerful as it retained the support of the ulema and the jawara, said Adi Prayitno, a political analyst from Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN).

A December survey by Jaringan Suara Indonesia (JSI) found that 42.7 percent of 700 respondents said they would vote for Wahidin-Andika, while only 36.2 percent said they would vote for Rano-Embay.

Adi said the family had launched a systematic and massive attempt to control the province’s politics and economy.

“It also gained the legitimacy of ulema and jawara,” he said.

Similar analysis is also echoed by Zaki Mubarak, another UIN political analyst. “Based on my field research, Banten residents found Atut’s family helpful as they often gave donations to mosques and financially supported local events.”

He further said that the race was even tougher for Rano and Embay as, except for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), they are backed by smaller parties, the Nasdem Party and the United Development Party (PPP).

Meanwhile, Wahidin and Andika were supported by seven parties: Golkar Party, Democratic Party, Hanura, Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), National Mandate Party (PAN), National Awakening Party (PKB) and Gerindra.

“It is possible to break the dynasty’s influence, but we need more time,” said Zaki.

Meanwhile, Wahidin-Andika spokesman Syafril Elaine played down concerns about Wahidin’s decision to run with Andika, saying it was the former, not the latter, who would lead Banten.

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