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.