Beleaguered Sutiyoso opts out of election

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

JAKARTA: The city will likely have a new governor later this year as Sutiyoso, who has failed to evade criticism over his poor performance in a number of areas, has indicated that he would not run for a second term after his tenure ends in October.

Sutiyoso said during a post-Idul Fitri gathering with the Betawi (native Jakartans) community here on Sunday that he did not have any ambition for the nomination, Antara reported.

Sutiyoso, who became governor in 1997, has failed to handle various urban problems, including garbage, transportation, evictions of street vendors and slum residents and corruption in his administration.

Several city councillors had earlier told The Jakarta Post that they would not support Sutiyoso for a second term.

In the meeting on Sunday, head of the Betawi Community Consultative Body Abdul Syukur reiterated that his group wanted a Betawian to lead the city. Sutiyoso is Javanese.

The Consultative Body had prepared 10 names, including Zailani, the deputy governor for social welfare and Fauzi Bowo, the city secretary. They will be screened by a team chaired by former deputy governor Edi Nalapraya, who is also Betawian.

"It should be required that .... (the nominee) holds at least an S2 (master's degree), if possible an S3 (doctoral degree), experienced (as a government official) and religious," Abdul Syukur said.

Sutiyoso, a former Jakarta military commander, warned that the new governor should be able to coordinate with all parties to safeguard Jakarta due to the possible tense political situation in 2003 and 2004, when the general elections will take place.

The majority of governors all over the country, including Jakarta, are from the military. Jakarta has had 11 governors since independence, and there was only one civilian who held the post, from 1965 to 1966 during the waning days of the Soekarno administration. The last six governors were Ali Sadikin (1967- 1977), Tjokropranolo (1977-1982), Soeprapto (1982-1987), Wiyogo Atmodarminto (1987-1992), Surjadi Soedirdja (1992-1997) and Sutiyoso (since 1997).