Guv hopefuls release books to public

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 05/16/2007 7:51 AM  |  Jakarta

Adisti Sukma Sawitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Candidates in the city's gubernatorial election are taking their self-promotion efforts to the next level, publicly launching books cataloging their lives and achievements.

Former deputy of the National Police Comr. Gen. Adang Daradjatun has released a book entitled ""Pengabdian Tanpa Henti, Siap Mengabdi untuk Bangsa"" (Never-ending Service, Ready to Serve for the Nation) on his life-long career as a police officer in Jakarta.

As the son of senior prosecutor, Adang grew up in a well-respected family with strong links to law enforcement.

Adang's father, Achmad Djunaedi, was once head of the West Java Prosecutor's Office.

Despite his father's wishes that he become a doctor or an engineer, Adang was inspired by his father's job to enter the police force.

The Adang biography, which was written by senior journalists, Threes Emir and Julius Pour, tells that Adang spent most of his 34-year-long career in Jakarta, with several postings in Maluku and West Java.

The book also portrays Adang as a thinker who played an important role in a 2001 effort to reform the country's policing strategy to bring police closer to the community.

Adang said the book was not necessarily intended to support his campaign, but he said he hoped the book would let people get to know him and learn from his experiences.

The book was planned to be released to commemorate Adang's retirement from the National Police as well as his birthday last year. However, Adang has postponed leaving his position until the end of the year after being asked to stay on by National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto.

""I had a career that was far from the media spotlight, but when I look back I think it disadvantaged me because people never had the chance to get to know me. At least now I have a record of my lifetime journey and can share it with people,"" he said at the Sunday book launch in Kemang, South Jakarta.

Political expert Muhammad Qodari criticized the book for being too focused on personal details and failing to elaborate on Adang's critical thoughts and plans for Jakarta's future.

""It's too bad that Pak Adang missed this chance. People will still be left wondering about his vision for Jakarta,"" he said.

Meanwhile, Legislator Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who is being backed by the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), also released a book on forest fires, co-written with Dwi Iswandono.

The book is not Sarwono's first. But its launch before the opening of candidate registration next month should jog the public's memory of Sarwono's record in environmental management.

Serving as environment minister during Soeharto era, Sarwono shares his experiences on forest management in his book ""Politik di Balik Asap, Refleksi atas Bencana Nasional Kebakaran Hutan 1997/98"" (Politics on the Other Side of the Smoke: Reflections on the National Forest Fire Distaster of 1997-1998).

""The government has to stop thinking of forest fires as natural disasters. It has to free itself from political interests and sustain its programs to prepare for these incidents,"" he said on the sidelines of the book launch last weekend.

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