Becoming a leader elected by the people of Banten Province is a big challenge for Andra Soni. As the elected Governor paired with Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, they are committed to leading the province nicknamed the Land of Champions with all their hearts. What are the priority program that they will realize?

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Unemployment and poverty are two fundamental issues in society that are the government's main concerns. This problem is exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and difficult access to clean water, especially in the coastal areas of Banten Province.

Based on BPS data as of March 2024, Banten was recorded as the fifth of six provinces with the highest unemployment rates in Java. The Special Region of Yogyakarta is in first place with a percentage of 10.88 percent, followed by Central Java (10.47 percent) and East Java (9.79 percent). However, Banten is also recorded as the eighth province with the lowest poverty rate in Indonesia.

After the simultaneous voting, the candidate pair for Governor and Deputy Governor of Banten number 02, Andra Soni - Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, managed to beat their rivals, Airin Rachmi Diany - Ade Sumardi, in the 2024 Banten Pilkada. The Andra Soni-Dimyati pair won 3,102,501 votes or 55.8 percent, while the candidate pair number 01, Airin-Ade, won 2,440,188 votes or 44.12 percent.

At exactly 10:00 WIB, a white car entered the yard of the Gerindra Party DPD office in Serang, Banten. Shortly after, Andra Soni got out of the car, wearing a white shirt combined with black pants. The man born in 1976 is now the Chairperson of the Banten Gerindra Party DPD, replacing Desmon J. Mahesa.

The first impression of this Gerindra politician is a friendly and easy-to-smile figure. The elected Governor of Banten, Andra Soni, said that the poverty rate in the Land of Champions was largely contributed by the Lebak and Pandeglang regions. The former Chairman of the Banten DPRD is committed to inviting all regional heads at the district/city level to work together to improve the welfare of the Banten community, one of which is through improving infrastructure in the Lebak and Pandeglang regions.

"The poverty rate is mostly contributed by the Lebak and Pandeglang regions. This problem is a shared responsibility between the district/city government and the provincial government. Poverty is a shared homework, including the media which also has an important role. Therefore, we must work together and collaborate to eradicate poverty to zero," said Andra Soni to Ronald Tanamas, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto from VOI at the Gerindra Banten DPD Office on Tuesday, December 24. Here is the full excerpt.

Congratulations on being appointed as the elected Governor of Banten, did you predict that you would get the highest number of votes?

Thank you. Of course, as a candidate, we try to get the highest number of votes. So we do everything we can to achieve victory. However, we believe that our job is to fight and try. The final result is the decision of the Almighty.

Banten is famous for the existence of the very strong and deeply rooted dynasty of Queen Atut Chosiyah. Have you seen a reality like this? What strategy was implemented so that you could win the hearts of the Banten people?

Yes, if we talk about the dynasty, I see that it cannot be denied. The name of Mrs. Atut is very well known by the Banten people, and she was once the governor of this province.

Talking about strategy, there is actually nothing special. I believe that the Banten people are a heterogeneous society. Of the eight districts and cities, the population is more dominant in the Greater Tangerang area.

The issues that we raise in the campaign are issues that are indeed of concern to the community, such as unemployment, equality, and education. We offer all of that to the public as ideas, concepts, and solutions that we will realize in the future government.

There are eight programs that you offered during the campaign. How do you realize them?

We have five missions that are in line with the central government's mission. From this vision, we designed eight main programs that also support the central government's programs.

The eight programs have 24 derivative programs to accelerate the realization. This is homework for all of us. Our main task is to ensure that the vision, mission, and programs are running.

Regional government is a collaboration between the Governor and the DPRD. The first step that I will take is to coordinate with colleagues in the DPRD. Fortunately, 72 percent of DPRD members come from the Banten Maju Coalition. I am sure, because I have also been in the DPRD for a long time, our hopes are the same: to solve the problems of education, unemployment, and poverty in Banten together.

In the first hundred days, what is your target?

Oh yes, if we talk about general targets, we will refer to the central government. However, in the province, the conditions are different. As governor, I came in when the APBD was already running. My focus is to ensure that the future RPJMD can be implemented immediately and in line with the central government's program.

One of our targets is to realize free schools for high school, vocational school, and special schools. This program is expected to benefit around 200,000 students in Banten Province.

For infrastructure such as electricity, clean water, roads, etc., which areas are in poor condition and need priority?

Banten Province has an area of ​​9,000 km². There is a lot of potential that can be maximized to help economic growth. In the northern region, especially Greater Tangerang, growth is quite rapid. However, several areas such as Lebak, Pandeglang, and part of Serang Regency still need more attention.

The Banten Provincial Government will bridge this need with the central government and optimize existing resources at the district/city level to accelerate development.

What about clean water?

For clean water, many areas in Banten are still having difficulties. Groundwater in several areas, especially the coast, is not drinkable. This is an obstacle that needs to be fixed immediately so that people can get clean water for their daily needs.

Regarding poverty, has it been mapped, and how do you eradicate it?

When talking about poverty as a whole, Banten Province is ranked fifth in Java. The most dominant poverty rates are in the Lebak and Pandeglang areas. This poverty problem is a shared responsibility between the second-level government and the provincial government. Poverty is a shared homework, including the media which has an important role. Therefore, we must work together and collaborate to eradicate poverty to zero.

I am guided by the belief that a good leader is a servant of the community. I am optimistic and will invite all second-level government leaders in this province to work together to maximize the potential in Banten, reduce poverty rates, and improve the welfare of the Banten community.

What steps will be taken to improve the welfare of workers in Banten?

One of our programs is free schools. This program provides enormous benefits for workers. This means that with the wages they receive in the border areas with Jakarta, of course their cost of living is similar to Jakarta. However, the wages of workers here are not the same as those in Jakarta. Yes, that is part of the consequences of being a region bordering Jakarta.

The role of the government is of course to support, by providing the best service to the industry. That way, the industry can provide maximum results to its workers.

One of the big problems in Banten is unemployment. How do you solve it?

Poverty is inseparable from unemployment, and unemployment is also closely related to the quality of education. Mr. Prabowo has a program to form superior human resources. One of them is the free nutritious meal program, which aims to ensure that the intake into the children's bodies is balanced and healthy.

In fact, Mr. Prabowo also thinks about quality nutritional intake for pregnant mothers. This means that our generation starts from there. The Banten Provincial Government will support education, ensuring that people get the right to education. One form of support is the free nutritious meal program in schools. Without us realizing it, this program will encourage parents to send their children to school.

School fees are indeed not cheap, but you create a free school program, how do you realize it?

The problem of expensive school fees also has a solution, namely free schools. In school, they will also get free nutritious food. Of course, the impact will be seen in the next few years. Mr. Prabowo launched the Indonesian cabinet with the name of the Red and White Cabinet, which carries the spirit of mutual cooperation. Indonesia is famous for its characteristic of mutual cooperation, and this is a joint work, teamwork. I am sure, the free nutritious meal program and free school will improve the quality of our human resources.

Not long ago you came to the Palace to meet President Prabowo. What are your messages for you as the elected governor of Banten Province?

As a cadre of the Gerindra Party, of course I am proud to be present at the Palace for the first time and stand side by side with the president. As the General Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Mr. Prabowo hopes that his cadres who currently have a mandate from the people will work as well as possible. As president, he always says that the existing leaks are an obstacle to development.

President Prabowo congratulated me and emphasized that I work well and not be corrupt. That is in accordance with our vision, namely Banten is advanced, fair, equitable, and free from corruption.

What does free from corruption mean?

Personally, I always remind myself that the fish rots from the head. So, as leaders, we must firmly say no to corruption or corrupt behavior.

I strongly agree with his idea regarding the future regional elections being chosen by the DPRD. In fact, campaign costs are very expensive, both those incurred by the government and the candidates themselves, especially if the area or region is large. In essence, what Mr. Prabowo said is true that it is part of waste.

What is the long-term target of leading Banten?

The regional government already exists and is structured according to his ideas. However, I cannot deviate from the rules. So, the central government's target, such as 8 percent economic growth, must be supported. Economic growth starts from the regions. Don't just have dreams. Mr. Prabowo wants to build from the village, build from the bottom. That's what we will do, because 80 percent of the Banten Province area is a village.

I want our villages to be independent and become contributors to regional needs. If our cooperatives are able to build networks, they can support food needs and so on. We will support the food self-sufficiency program initiated by President Prabowo.

Banten borders Jakarta, what are the challenges of this situation?

Now, our region is the closest to Jakarta, both from the center of government and the center of the economy. Our roads and infrastructure are better, although not optimal, but better than other regions. Banten Province has toll roads, ports, and airports. So, even though our infrastructure still needs a lot of repair, we will continue to repair it and maximize it. We will build roads between villages so that they are not cut off. We will build agricultural businesses. We must optimize the potentials that Banten has.

Andra Soni: I Never Thought I Would Become Governor of Banten

Being elected as the number one person in Banten Province was completely unimaginable for Andra Soni. He was not even sure about becoming a gubernatorial candidate. However, the Almighty apparently had other plans. In the 2024 simultaneous regional elections, paired with Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, they managed to defeat the pair Airin Rachmi Diany and Ade Sumardi who were supported by Ratu Atut Chosiyah, the former Governor of Banten.

Before entering the political arena, Andra Soni was a private employee. After completing his studies at the Diploma 3 level at STIE Bhakti Pembangunan, Jakarta (2001), he had worked in various private companies.

Satisfied with his career in the private sector, Andra Soni dared to enter the political arena. After going through mature thought, he finally chose the Gerindra Party as his place to serve in the world of politics. He began his journey as the Chairperson of the Tangerang City Gerindra Party Branch Leadership Council (DPC). His career in the political arena continued to climb after being trusted to occupy the position of Secretary of the Gerindra Party DPD of Banten Province until finally becoming the Chairperson of the Gerindra Party DPD of Banten Province.

"I am very grateful for what I have achieved so far. This is all His gift. I am fortunate to have many good mentors, friends, and leaders. I have very good adoptive parents. I always work focused and never move around," said the man born in Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, August 12, 1976.

In the political arena, he was fortunate because he was guided and mentored by high-ranking Gerindra Party officials. "I was lucky to have an amazing and good mentor. He taught me many positive things and shaped me into a fighter and a warrior. My political mentor in Gerindra always taught me to maintain three things: trust, honesty, and honor. Bang Sufmi Dasco Ahmad is one of my political mentors. He helped me a lot in my political career, from going down to the remote areas to winning," said Andra, who continued his undergraduate studies at STIE Banten (2021) and a Masters in Public Administration from Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (2023).

To the Political Stage

A career as a politician in the Banten region took him on a career journey beyond his expectations. Banten is known as the Land of Champions which has long been controlled by the extended family of Atut Chosiyah, the former Governor of Banten (2007-2015).

Because of that, he could not believe that he could gain the trust of the Banten people to become governor. "This is something I never imagined. Something I never dreamed of either. But it just flowed when given the trust. This is God's way," he said.

To maintain his stamina and health, Andra Soni admitted that he did not do anything fancy, just rested enough and maintained his food intake. "Actually, I am also an ordinary human being, I also feel tired. Then I am also old, I am forty-eight years old. But I have duties, promises, and responsibilities. To maintain my health, I exercise, take morning walks. In addition, I try not to think about various things, just walk and flow," admitted the man who has no taboos when it comes to food. However, he began to be self-aware because he was no longer young, so he had reduced his consumption of offal.

Being a true leader is a servant of the people. Therefore, for him, the people are number one, so family matters often have to be defeated. "Like it or not, the family also has to make sacrifices. They can't do whatever they want because my position now belongs to the people," said the former Chairman of the Banten DPRD (2019-2024).

Attention to Family

Andra Soni admitted that sometimes his children and wife protested because they were made the second priority after public affairs. However, he still paid attention to his family. "That's why my second child often protests. 'Dad shouldn't have made promises if he can't do them,'" he imitated his child's annoyance when he found out that his father couldn't fulfill his promises.

In the past, before he became a member of the council, he still had a lot of time for his children. "I was close to my children. Before I became a member of the DPRD, we would definitely go out together during holidays. When I became a member of the DPRD, the time started to decrease, and it disappeared even more when I became the chairman of the DPRD," he continued.

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Before campaigning for the Banten gubernatorial election, he spoke with his children and wife. "Yesterday before starting the campaign, I talked with my children and wife. In essence, I asked them to commit to helping me. Because being a public servant does require sacrifice. Time to travel is reduced. So we can no longer be like before when I was not a people's representative and now a public servant of Banten," said Andra Soni who did not hesitate to eat at a food stall.

"Poverty is a shared homework including the media also has an important role. Therefore we must work together and collaborate to eradicate poverty to zero,"