Malang: Hope after Choice

Excercising our political rights in every election is similar to excercising our ability to hope. On April 9, millions of Indonesians, including the residents of Pusung Village in the Malang Regency of East Java did both. Pusung exists in the hilly regions close enough to the borderline with Pasuruan Regency. We arrived in Pusung Village after an hour's cycle from Singosari.

The morning of April 9 presented an commonplace situation. Ballot boxes and chambers, legislative candidates list, voters list, and also the chairs were arranged nicely in the only polling station in the village. The members of the Polling Station Working Committees (KPPS) are ready to do their jobs.

A few minutes before seven o'clock -the opening hour of the polling station- about 15 residents are ready in the polling station with a sheet of voting invitation in each their hands. Some residents walk around the polling station to see the legislative candidates list, some put their eyes on the preparation of the KPPS while a sun was rising in the backside of the hill. A number of children were playing around enjoying the first election in the village. For many years, in every election they had to go downhill to Wonorejo Village for voting.

After the witnesses from four political parties arrived, the Chairman of KPPS takes the lead to begin the pools. The residents start to sit on the chairs provided there. One by one voter enter the voting room, making their choices, before dye their fingers in the ink.

Pusung has 76 families. Most of them work as a cow shepherds and maize farmers. Lasim -he does not his date of birth- really wishes the asphalt roads will be built in the village besides electricity. Those also wished by Kastin (45), Karsi (27), Satuman (55), and Sukir (60).

All they wished are reasonable, since there is no asphalt road at all in Pusung. This condition impacted to economic and development sectors. None of the traders has interest due to geographical situation in Pusung. That is why none of the residents has house built with the cements. None of the drivers want to drive their cars into Pusung. To make efficiency and save their money for renovating their houses, daily the residents consume food from their own garden.

Many of the residents have no electricity for their houses. They use oil lamps -they called it as oblik- for every activities including when their children study every afternoon. For the oil, monthly they spend Rp.20 thousands (similar to US Dollar 2). Karsi says, he has to spend US Dollar 2,25 every month for the oil. Sometimes if they could wait any longer, they buy the electricity from another village, and they have to pay about USD 250 for 5-6 families using 500 meters cables. It is a risky way, since sometimes the thieves take the cable off. But, they have no other choices, since that is the only way they have to enjoy the televisions. Last but not least, it is a cheaper way than using the oil.

Karsi says, "On August 2008 the local government built solar power electricity unit. But, unfortunately, it was not distributed to only 26 houses. The rest have to use oblik."

For the younger generations, education facilities are very urgent. Poniah (24) says it is time to build not just elementary schools. It is also necessary to build the Kindergarten as a media for cognitive building. The same thing also expressed by Yuniarti (21) who wish for the schools until junior high school. "It is very important to build our village," Yuniarti said.
It is so difficult to build the village due to the minimum facilities in Pusung. Satiman is now 55 years old. It is more than enough to build the infrastructures: asphalt roads, electricity, and schools. "Yes, it should be enough," Satuman said. As a comparison, Ngadas Village, Poncokusumo, Malang Regency which located in Bromo Mount, East Java has its own asphalt roads and electricity. After the election, after the trust given to the candidates, will the dreams of the residents of Pusung come true? Should they wait for another 55 years? (Any Rufaidah, Malang)