Council pressing for mayor's ouster

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

Members of the Cirebon legislative council appear set to press for the ouster of Mayor Subardi for his perceived poor performance by rejecting his accountability statement, due to be delivered on Tuesday.

The council withdrew its political support for the embattled mayor and his deputy Agus Al Wafier in December after the two failed to appear before the council to explain their failings, in the eyes of the council, in running the local administration.

However, the mayor, a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), remained in power as Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno was still investigating the council's decision.

The April 5 legislative elections further delayed Hari's decision on the demand for Subardi's dismissal.

Council Speaker Suryana admitted on Tuesday that the planned rejection of the mayor's accountability statement was consistent with the council's decision to censure the mayor and his deputy during a plenary session on Dec. 17, 2003.

Suryana said the PDI-P and the Golkar Party, the two biggest factions on the council, would definitely reject the accountability statement by the mayor on Tuesday.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction also supported the move, he claimed.

"How can we accept the mayor's accountability statement when he has been doing such a bad job?" Suryana asked.

Cirebon's Golkar chairman, Soenaryo HW, confirmed the plan to reject the accountability statement, while Wawan Wanija, who chairs the PAN faction on the council, said his party had yet to adopt an official stance for or against the mayor.

"We have concluded in our discussions that the performance of the mayor and his deputy has been very poor, but we will decide whether to accept or reject their accountability statement tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said.

The 30-member council has 10 PDI-P members, six Golkar members, four PAN members, three reserved military and police faction seats, three National Awakening Party (PKB) members, two United Development Party (PPP) members, one Crescent Star Party (PBB) member, and one Justice and Unity Party member.

"If necessary, we will vote on whether to accept or reject the mayor's statement. The nays will definitely win," Suryana said.

He said that should the council reject the statement, this would mean the ouster of the mayor and his deputy from their posts.

"Law No. 22/1999 stipulates that regents and mayors are accountable to the local legislative council. If the council rejects the accountability statement of a mayor or regent, this means the person in question must leave his post," he said.

Citing Subardi's poor performance, Suryana said the mayor had been shown to be "lazy" in carrying out his official duties.

"It is an open secret that the mayor rarely comes to the office. Maybe once or twice a week, and then only for a few hours.

"If your don't believe me, check for yourself with the officials of the Cirebon administration. They will say the same as me," he added.

Suryana also accused the mayor of abuse of power. For example, he claimed the Subardi administration was not transparent, nor did the mayor consult with the council regarding the appointment and promotion of local officials, he added.

He further alleged that the mayor had been guilty of corruption in a number of development projects in Cirebon. "All of these failings are concrete evidence that the mayor's performance has been very poor."

The Subardi/Al Wafier pairing were elected as mayor and deputy mayor in January 2003 with the support of the PDI-P and PAN.

Since becoming mayor, Subardi has reportedly stopped attending PDI-P meetings in Cirebon, further enraging his former supporters in the party.