Ali Mazi wins gubernatorial election in SE Sulawesi
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Candidates Ali Mazi and Yusran Silondae won a majority of votes in the election for governor and deputy governor conducted by the Southeast Sulawesi Legislative Council in Kendari on Thursday, to replace outgoing governor La Ode Kaimoeddin.
Of 43 legislators who attended the legislature's plenary session, 24 cast their votes for Ali and Yusran who were nominated by the Golkar Party faction, eleven voted for running mates Ismail Tangka and Yusron Silondae who were nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction and the remaining eight gave their votes to Djaali and Ibrahim Palace, nominated by the Reform Party faction.
The Indonesian Military/National Police faction did not nominate any candidates in the gubernatorial election.
Antara news agency reported that also present in the plenary session presided over by Hino Biohanis, chairman of the legislative council, was outgoing governor la Ode Kaimoeddin and Andi Mattalata, deputy chairman of Golkar Party.
Hundreds of students who demanded a direct gubernatorial election clashed with a score of riot police who were deployed to maintain security during the election. Several demonstrators were injured and several others were held by police for further questioning.
Kaimoeddin's term of office will end on Dec. 23, 2002.
Hino said in the closing ceremony of the gubernatorial election that the public were allowed to lodge their complaints with the legislature if they had any objections to the election of Ali and Yusran in the next three working days from Friday until Monday.
"The provincial legislative council will hold another plenary session on Wednesday to approve the election results," he said, referring to Government Regulation No. 108/2000 on the replacement of regional officials.
The government regulation requires the provincial legislative council to propose the elected pair's names to President Megawati Soekarnoputri for approval.
"If the President gives her approval, Ali and Yusron will be sworn in by the home minister as new governor and deputy governor respectively on Dec. 23, 2002," he said.
Ali Mazi, was born in Pasar Wajo, Buton regency in 1961 and is a graduate of the University of Indonesia. Besides running a law firm, he also established the Ali Mazi Center, a non-governmental organization in Jakarta.
During the presentation of his vision and mission before the provincial legislative council, Ali vowed to promote sustainable development programs to improve local people's welfare.
Yusron was born in Tolaki, Makassar, South Sulawesi in 1952, and is an alumni of the University of Indonesia. He has developed a career in the provincial administration. His present position is chief of the training and education department at the provincial administration.