Council threatens to expel Al Rasyid
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Muhammad Nafik The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Legislative Council threatened on Wednesday to replace Governor Harun Al Rasyid if he confirms his candidacy for the Jakarta governorship.
"This is an insult, because he intends to leave before completing his tenure," the chairman of the council's Commission A for legal and administrative affairs, H.M. Jamani, told Antara on Wednesday after attending the council's plenary meeting.
"We have many officials who are willing and able to govern the province, so why do we have to keep relying on someone who doesn't heed his hometown anymore," he added.
Jamani was commenting on reports that Al Rasyid would run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election for the 2002 to 2007 term.
Al Rasyid has another two years left in his present five-year term of office.
Al Rasyid, who has remained tightlipped on the reports of his possible candidacy for Jakarta governor, gave a rare response on Wednesday.
"If I were entrusted (as Jakarta governor), I would be ready," he said.
However, securing prior approval from the West Nusa Tenggara provincial legislative council, a requirement to run in the elections, could prove difficult for Al Rasyid to attain as council members have appeared unhappy with the reports.
Jamani said Al Rasyid had the right to nominate himself in any gubernatorial election as long as he completed his present tenure.
"His candidacy would stir public opinion that he has not been serious in governing the province over the past three years. And (people may say) that it's the reason the province has made no significant progress in development," he said.
The Jakarta gubernatorial election, which will be the first direct election ever, is scheduled for Sept. 17.
The NTB council's plenary meeting suggested on Wednesday the governor merge five provincial agencies -- fisheries, forestry, agriculture, husbandry and plantations -- into one office.
The merger, according to the council, would be in line with attempts to reduce routine budget spending.