Champions

Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Juara-Juari’, in Bali Post, Sunday, 30 November 2008, a column by I Wayan Juniartha. Translated by Putu Semiada.

The streets looks more busy by posters, banners and billboards as the general election is getting closer, so it seems ‘no space’ left for ‘leak’ (evil spirits).

“It’s getting more difficult for them to find a place for ‘nglekas’ (changing themselves into a creature). There is no spooky corner anymore, each has been occupied by campaign posters, banners and billboards,” says I Kadek Engkah Mula Mudah.

The kramas are nodding, but nobody really wants to give comment. It’s raining at the moment and the weather is very cool, everybody is enjoying their palm toddy and having hot fantasy. Some are thinking of their wives at home and some are thinking of somebody’s wife. But nobody wants to think about evil spirit.

“Dadong (grandmother) next to my house has supernatural power (sakti). It is said that she was fainted during the Kajang Kliwon two days ago. She had a problem when she was changing to be a creature at the village crossroads.” Kadek says.

Made stunned the kramas with his story. No wonder as many of them were victims of the old lady’s supernatural power. One of them was ‘blinded’ and made him forgot his children and wife. Everyday he went to see prostitutes. There is also a man whose soul was devoted to the god of the graveyard temple and it made him empty, wanted to do nothing, no appetite, only wanted drinking palm toddy all the time.

It is said also that once, ‘Dadong’ was going to change herself to become a golden fly. But she declined as she saw a billboard of a handsome young man with beautiful headdress, beautiful smile, whit a motto that he is willing to fight for Bali and loyal to the country.

On the billboard it is also written, “Coblos saya” (vote me, literally means ‘Fuck Me’, -ed). So dadong was getting more nervous having seen it. She could not concentrate. All in her mind was porn things. The last thing is that she was fainted.

All the people are laughing hearing the story. All the streets are full of billboards, banners of the legislative candidates.

Everybody has different perception to this. Some are sick of seeing it. Some like sitting in front of billboards of lady candidates, watching their see-through kebayas. Some are amazed by number of political parties and candidates. Some are happy as they enjoy the economic benefit of the billboard business.

“I love the material of the billboards. They are waterproof. When the election is over, I would take one and use it for roof of my cow cage,” says I Made Semangat Juang nyelag.

I am proud that many Balinese are ready to be leaders, they are willing to spend millions of Rupiahs to buy new clothes, rent photo studio and print billboards just to tell people that they are ready to be leaders.

The kramas are all laughing. Everyone now seems political-consciousness. They are bringing newspaper everywhere they go.

“Do you understand why these people are making big billboards of themselves? asks I Ketut Sengauk Mauk. It means people don’t know who they are. They never came here. They don’t know us. They don’t really know what our problems are. They never help us. If they have ever come here and know us, they don’t need to make big billboards of them, just make a telephone call and ask us to vote for them. I am sure they people here will.

We don’t even know their faces, let alone their behaviour.

Secondly, there are more and more people with no sensibility.

“They haven’t even done anything yet. What have they given to the people? Have they ever helped people? How dare they putting billboards of themselves along the streets.” Ketut further says.

There are a lot of issues that tend to ruin Bali, e.g. porn law, special autonomy, fertilizer price. But where were they when these issues came up? Why do they need us just as the election is getting closer. They just talk, talk, talk, but do nothing.

If all they can do is just talking, and at the end they declare themselves that they will work hard for the people, well they it’s all bullshit.

“Thirdly, many of Balinese feel that they are handsome and beautiful, that’s why they dare to make big billboards of themselves and put them along the streets.


Glossary:
Kramas: village community
I Kadek Engkah Mula Mudah: someone who talk too much
Kajang Kliwon: a Balinese wuku calendar holiday when people make offerings for ground spirits.
I Made Semangat Juang: Someone who will take anything he can from others.
I Ketut Sengauk Mauk: somebody who likes to criticize.