Ruslan Sangadji
A heated war of words among candidates and a campaign ad blitz in local media have marked the countdown to Monday's direct gubernatorial election in strife-torn Central Sulawesi.
Posters and banners bearing the likeness of the four pairs of candidates -- M. Jusuf Paddong-Abdul Muis Thahir; Bandjela Paliudju-Achmad Yahya; Rully Lamadjido-Sudarto; and Aminuddin Ponulele-Sahabuddin Mustapa -- are found at every corner along the streets of the provincial capital Palu.
The candidates have resorted to mud-slinging and placing glossy ads supporting their bids. Local newspapers bear headlines proclaiming the respective candidates' confident statements of victory.
A member of the Central Sulawesi Election Commission, priest Dharma Sallat Putra, told The Jakarta Post the final voter registration listed 1,498,870 eligible voters among the province's two million residents.
The commission has also set up 4,240 voting booths across the province's 10 regencies and cities. Donggala regency has the most voters (284,697), followed by Parigi Moutong regency (230,092) and Palu city (188,752), with the rest distributed in Poso, Morowali, Tojo Una-Una, Buol, Toli Toli, Banggai and Banggai Islands regencies.
Dharma said all ballot papers had been distributed to the regencies and cities.
"The preparations are final for the Jan. 16 election," he said.
The country kicked off the landmark direct election of local leaders last June in Kutai Kartanegara.
The Palu contest is especially tight, with strong support for three influential figures. The frontrunners are retired major general and former Central Sulawesi governor Bandjela; former Palu mayor Rully, who is currently the province's deputy governor; and Aminuddin, the incumbent governor and chairman of the province's Golkar Party chapter.
In their campaigns, the candidates have rolled out enticing promises -- on security, political stability, free education and healthcare, as well as improved welfare.
They also offer their followers a host of freebies at campaign stops, from shirts to soccer uniforms, to hear their message.
But the content of political platforms is far from the minds of many of those who show up at rallies.
"The important thing is that we get free shirts, transport money and so
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