PPP actress candidate causes smiles, for all wrong reasons
Political analyst from the University of Indonesia Hamdi Muluk slammed the decision by the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP) to nominate B-movie actress and swimsuit model Angel Lelga as a legislative candidate.
Hamdi said that by nominating Angel, who was recently humiliated in a political talk show broadcast by news channel MetroTV, the PPP had insulted the intelligence of the country’s voters.
“I was crying after seeing the program. Why the party has given such an important task to someone as unqualified as her is an insult to us and our democracy,” Hamdi said as quoted by tribunnews.com.
In the political talk show Mata Najwa aired Wednesday last week, Angel gave a stuttered and halting response to questions posed by host Najwa Shihab about her motivation to contest the 2014 legislative
election.
Most of the time during the show Angel answered with one-liners or non-sequiturs.
One of the most embarrassing moments was when Angel, apparently running out of ways to respond to questions, gave her final words: “Regarding some of the issues, I haven’t asked my party chairman, so I don’t have my own opinion. I don’t want to meddle with party affairs.”
When asked about her objective as a lawmaker, Angel said she wanted to lift the people in her constituency — Central Java V covering Boyolali, Klaten and Sukoharjo regencies as well as Surakarta municipality — out of poverty.
“How would you, as a legislator, be able to eradicate poverty?” asked Najwa.
“There are many ways,” Angel responded.
“Tell us, just one of them,” Najwa shot back.
“Perhaps, I can change development there.”
“How?” the host pressed her further.
“We’ll see. I don’t want to talk too much here. My rivals could copy my programs,” she said.
“But isn’t it important to woo your prospective voters?” Najwa further queried.
“They already know,” Angel said.
“Have you learned about political skills such as lobbying? As a legislator you will need them to discuss budgetary matters.”
“What do you mean? Well, I believe my close connection to our leaders will help me.”
As a result, Angel has become a laughing stock on social media, with Twitter users mostly complaining about her lack of knowledge even on basic matters, such as the stance of her own political party.
Aside from her reputation as a swimsuit model and her erotic performances in local horror movies, Angel became a local tabloid staple when the rumors surfaced that she was the mistress of self-styled king of dangdut Rhoma Irama.
Rhoma himself is now campaigning, representing the National Awakening Party (PKB) as its presidential candidate.
PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali, who is also the Religious Affairs Minister, has defended Angel, saying that voters should forgive her for her poor grasp of politics.
“Angel is a newcomer to the PPP. She was asked to be a legislative candidate before she became a PPP member. Please understand her,” he said.
PPP actress candidate causes smiles, for all wrong reasons | The Jakarta Post
