Voting Day Payouts

Hundreds of people were crowded in the Grand Mutiara meeting hall in downtown Kupang on Thursday night last week. Public figures, heads of local government offices, leaders of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) and local politicians filled the two-storey hall, the largest building in the capital city of East Nusa Tenggara. They were celebrating the selection of Setya Novanto as chair of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2014-2019 term.

Setya, general treasurer of the Golkar Party, had become a legislator representing this election district. Speaking to reporters, he said this was not the only thanksgiving event being held in Kupang. Before that particular reception, he had been at many other places, including the Diocese of the Catholic Church of Kupang, the Yesus Maria Oebelo Pilgrimage Park and a livestock farm in Amfoang, 150 kilometers outside the city. "I am going to turn East Nusa Tenggara into a repository of livestock," he said.