Surjadi quits the race<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday he was
\nunwilling to serve another term after his term ends Oct. 6.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta is a very dynamic city. It now needs a fresh newcomer
\nwho has creative, innovative and imaginative ideas for
\ndevelopment, which is occurring at a rapid pace,\" Surjadi said at
\na meeting with senior journalists of both electronic and print
\nmedia.<\/p>\n
Surjadi made the remarks in response to an official
\nannouncement by the City Council on June 2 about 12 proposed
\ncandidates for Jakarta's next governor.<\/p>\n
The proposed candidates included Surjadi and City Council
\nSpeaker M.H. Ritonga, who also recently expressed his desire not
\nto be a candidate.<\/p>\n
The ten remaining candidates for governor include, among
\nothers, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, former
\nJakarta military commander Lt. Gen. A.M. Hendropriyono, chairman
\nof Golkar city chapter Tadjus Sobirin, Army Territorial Center
\nchief Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna P. and former deputy governor of
\nadministrative affairs Edi M. Nalapraya.<\/p>\n
\"I just want to express my gratitude to those who proposed me,
\nbut I'm very sorry I can't meet their expectations,\" Surjadi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He explained that he had consulted with members of his family
\nabout his decision. \"My governorship term of five years is the
\nlongest of my 35-year career. Previously I only held certain
\nposts, at the most, for two years at a time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Surjadi expressed fear that if his term was extended for
\nanother five years, he would be trapped into routine activities.<\/p>\n
\"I'll say that I'm unwilling to be proposed again if the City
\nCouncil asks me about the proposal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that in his life he never dreamed of becoming a
\ngovernor. \"But as soon as I was chosen as one, I fully dedicated
\nmy life as best as I could for that position.\"<\/p>\n
\"As a result many goals have been achieved, but many other
\nshortcomings still need to be handled,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Surjadi said that he already filed a letter of resignation
\nwith the President through Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
\nS.M. in March, seven months before the end of his term in
\nOctober.<\/p>\n
New council members will screen all proposed candidates in the
\nnext stage based on required criteria.<\/p>\n
The new council members will be officially installed on July
\n18, the same day the term of current members ends.<\/p>\n
The new councilors will later consult with the minister of
\nhome affairs to choose nominees, whose number will be reduced to
\nbetween three and five.<\/p>\n
The nominees should receive President Soeharto's approval
\nbefore a selection is made for Jakarta's next governor.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's meeting, which was sponsored by the Indonesian
\nJournalists Association (PWI) city chapter, was also attended by
\nSutiyoso and other senior journalists, including Jakob Oetama,
\nRosihan Anwar and Tarman Azzam, chairman of PWI's city chapter.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, the governor also gave life-insurance policies
\nto several journalists, including veteran journalist S.K.
\nTrimurti who represented the other recipients. (hhr)<\/p>\n
Slum areas -- Page 3<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/surjadi-quits-the-race-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }