Central Sulawesi governor annuls Morowali regent election
Central Sulawesi governor annuls Morowali regent election
Badri Jawara, The Jakarta Post, Palu
A standoff between the Morowali legislative council and Central
Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele continued on Saturday after
the governor insisted on a fresh election for Morowali regent,
saying the nomination of newly elected regent, Andi Muhammad, did
not meet administrative requirements.
Central Sulawesi provincial administration spokesman
Burhanuddin Maragau said Aminuddin would not issue any
recommendations on the elected regent.
Maragau's statement was made following a remark from a
legislator, alleging that Aminuddin would be summoned by Minister
of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno for not issuing a letter accepting
Andi's election.
Several legislators reportedly traveled to Jakarta to meet
with Hari regarding the matter.
"If the home affairs minister finally issues a decree to
accept Andi's victory in the election, it means he undermines the
governor's competence," Maragau added.
He stressed that, according to Government Regulation No.
151/2000, a governor, as an officer of the central government,
had the attributive authority to ensure that the administrative
requirements of candidates for regent were fulfilled.
Asked to comment on Andi's senior high school certificate,
Maragau admitted that there was some confusion regarding the
diploma, which states that Andi was born in Ujungpandang while,
according to his birth certificate, he was born in Mohaino,
Morowali.
Andi, who was proposed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction, also failed to submit his
graduation certificates from elementary and junior high school.
"The governor has given an instruction that the election must
be annulled and a new one be held so that all candidates meet
official conditions required by law and the government
regulation," he said.
The local legislative council, however, ignored the governor's
instruction and went ahead with the election.
Maragau claimed that Aminuddin did not care who was elected
regent, but wanted to ensure candidates fulfilled all
administrative requirements.
After the election, several legislators, accompanied by
legislature chairman Zainal Abidin Ishak, met the provincial
administration secretary, Samijono, and asked him to persuade the
governor to accept Andi's election.
On Saturday, the group also met with the governor at his
residence but Aminuddin stood firm in his decision that a new
election should be held.