REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Traditional markets have become the target of political parties to win the hearts of people as the markets are considered a more effective place for the 2014 legislative election campaigns.
Unlike previous elections when the campaigns were staged at open fields, the political parties that will contests in the upcoming legislative elections have come to the traditional markets to campaign.
The parties, which have conducted the campaigns at the traditional markets, are among others, Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Democratic Party, and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
In Kudus district, Central Java, the legislative candidates from Democratic Party staged the campaign on Monday at Wergu traditional market along the Agus Salim street, to win the sympathy of the local traders.
Meanwhile, women legislative candidates from PDI-P also campaigned at some traditional markets in Gunung Kidul district, Yogyakarta, last Wednesday. Ervianamurti Kurnisetyowati, a PDI-P woman legislative candidate, stated that campaigning at the traditional market was more effective than staging it at open fields.
"If we stage the campaigns at open fields, people are reluctant to come, but if we do it at the traditional markets, we get to meet a lot of people and find out what we can do for them later," Ervianamurti pointed out at the Argosari traditional market in Gunung Kidul.
In recent years, traditional markets have been under pressure by newer forms of retailing, such as supermarkets, chain stores and convenience stores. But the government continues to focus its attention on improving the traditional markets facilities and sanitation, as well as vendor services.
Modernization of traditional markets is necessary because it is believed to boost the economy and strengthen the competitiveness of traders with those in modern markets. Therefore, government ministries are working to modernize traditional markets in a number of regions in 2014. This year alone, Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises plans to revitalize around 60 traditional markets and to build 88 locations for street vendors in a number of provinces.
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