City set to do its best for coming election: Surjadi

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, in his capacity as chairman of the city's election committee, said yesterday the city would do its best to make the campaign period and the election run smoothly.

The city, he said, should always try to make elections better than previous ones.

"With our limited facilities we are doing our best," he said, urging contestants and the public to share responsibility "for a conducive climate".

The campaign and elections, he said, "should not be an opportunity for people to make trouble".

He also reminded people that the election rules prohibit street rallies.

"The rules are designed to minimize the potential for physical conflict between parties and between members of the public," he said.

Surjadi was speaking after presenting the election's three contestants an additional Rp 1.5 billion in campaign funds from the city budget.

The city's election committee, contestants and local religious leaders also said prayers for a smooth campaigning period and election.

Earlier the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the Golkar group had received Rp 500 million each.

The contestants had said the previous sum was far from enough for the 27-day campaign period.

Yesterday, each contestant got an additional Rp 250 million for their city branches, while their five mayoralty offices got another Rp 50 million.

Surjadi presented the additional funds to each party's city office chairman: Tadjus Sobirin of Golkar, Rusdi Hamka of PPP and Lukman Mokoginta of PDI.

The campaign period here starts on Sunday nationwide and lasts until May 23. Golkar kicks off in Jakarta first, followed by PDI on Monday and PPP on Tuesday. Each party is entitled to nine rounds.

Surjadi denied yesterday that there were city programs linked to Golkar's campaign. Last week Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro launched flood control projects and renovated schools in North Jakarta. Sources said the minister was acting in his capacity as Golkar patron for Jakarta.

Surjadi said "we cannot stop city programs just because of elections..Don't be so suspicious."

A city rule on campaigning is to be enforced despite protests from PPP's national board chairman, Ismail Hasan Metareum.

Ismail had said the city rule violated national rules, and had instructed the PPP city office to ignore it.

Surjadi declined to comment.

In the city rule supporters from one mayoralty may not attend campaign sites in another mayoralty. The national rules state people are free to attend campaigns.

City PPP chairman Rusdi said PPP had found a solution, "but it's not for publication." (anr/ste)