South Tangerang mayor hopefuls begin campaigning

Four of seven candidates running for election as mayor of South Tangerang made various promises on Wednesday in a dialogue organized by an NGO.

The four hopefuls were Tangerang Education Agency chief Achmad Suwandhi, South Tangerang administration economic affairs expert Ayi Ruhiyat, former Ciputat district chief Muhamad, and Ogan Kemiring Ilir deputy regent Iskandar.

Ayi Ruhiyat said if elected he would develop South Tangerang municipality with improvements to security, education and public welfare.

Muhamad, the head of administrative department at Tangerang regency administration, said he would develop ties with neighboring administrations to deal with the garbage problems faced by the new municipality.

Achmad Suwandhi, the sibling of Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim, said the bureaucracy at the administration needed to be reformed to help the city become autonomous.

Iskandar asked all South Tangerang residents to seek ways to care better for each other to reduce the social gap.

Three other hopefuls — South Tangerang Red Cross chairwoman Airin Rachmi Diany, former Ciputat district chief Yayat Sudrajat and Tangerang municipality secretary Harry Mulya Zain — were not present at the dialog.

The elections are scheduled for October.