Golkar takes City Council speakership<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Councillor Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party faction secured
\nthe City Council speaker's post in a dramatic election on Friday
\nby garnering 42 of 75 votes.<\/p>\n
He defied earlier predictions that candidate Ahmad Heryawan of
\nthe Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction would become the new
\nspeaker. Heryawan only managed to garner 30 votes.<\/p>\n
With 18 votes and 16 votes respectively, from the PKS and the
\nDemocratic Party, plus four other votes from the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN), he seemed to have the required number of votes to
\nwin. Those three were up against the Nationhood Coalition
\ncomprising the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P),
\nGolkar, the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), the Reform Star Party
\n(PBR) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) with just 33 votes
\nbetween them.<\/p>\n
\"I am disappointed with the joint commitment and consensus
\nthat had been made and feel betrayed... Some people clearly
\ntainted our agreement,\" Heryawan said, in reference to a written
\nagreement made between PKS and the Democrats.<\/p>\n
Ilal Ferhard, a candidate from the Democratic Party, said at
\nleast three councillors from the party voted for another
\ncandidate. \"We know that some members have gone against (the
\nagreement).\"<\/p>\n
He said the faction would consider imposing sanctions on its
\nmembers, who were found to be cast their votes for their personal
\nchoice. \"The sanction may include a recall of the council's
\nmembership.\"<\/p>\n
Two remaining votes went to Maringan Pangaribuan of PDI-P and
\nIlal, respectively. A ballot paper for Heryawan was declared
\ninvalid as it was wrongly folded.<\/p>\n
\"I believe there was an effort to doom Heryawan's bid in the
\nelection as evidenced by the invalid vote. The council's internal
\nregulations clearly stipulate that any signs of irregularities,
\nlike a folded card, will not be tolerated,\" said PAN councillor
\nSyamsidar Siregar.<\/p>\n
She confirmed rumors swirling around that a meeting between
\nthe councillors and candidates at two hotels in Central Jakarta
\nhad taken place, but denied that it was to discuss power-sharing.<\/p>\n
After being declared as the new chairman, Ade -- known to be
\nthe wealthiest of all the councillors according to the Public
\nServants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) and a 20-year veteran
\nof the council -- repeated his promise to \"improve the
\ncouncillors dignity\".<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to hear councillors taking more criticism (from
\nthe public) than the executive branch of the administration. It
\nis our duty to monitor the performance of the executive, not to
\nbe monitored by the public,\" the shipping magnate explained.<\/p>\n
Two days prior to the election, Ade had promised that he would
\nincrease the councillors monthly salaries and upgrade facilities
\nfor them, including apartments.<\/p>\n
He argued that better benefits and salaries would prevent
\ncouncillors from moonlighting so that they could focus all their
\nattention on their legislation roles.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso welcomed the election result.<\/p>\n
\"It is good to know that Ade was elected. He is 'more
\nexperienced' than other new candidates. He knows the existing
\nrules (in the relationship between executive body and legislative
\nbody),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso denied allegations that he intervened in the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
The PKS is known for its critical stance against Sutiyoso's
\nadministration policies, particularly forcible evictions against
\nsquatters and street vendors. Observers said the election of
\nHeryawan, who is also PKS Jakarta chapter chairman, as the
\ncouncil speaker could create strong opposition to the
\nadministration's policies.<\/p>",
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