Council urged to name city secretary

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso urged the city council on Wednesday to make a decision soon on the two candidates who were recently nominated by the governor for the position of city secretary.

"The council can choose one of the candidates. We hope they do not reject it," city spokesman Muhayat told reporters at City Hall.

Muhayat said there were certain parties wanted the council to drop the two candidates, Makmun Amin and Ritola Tasmaya, and suggest another candidate.

City councillors expressed their concerns earlier that the nomination of the two candidates would create friction between Sutiyoso and Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo.

Makmun, the current financial assistant to the city secretary, was a close aide to Fauzi while Ritola, the current City Development Planning Office head, was put forth by Sutiyoso and the Golkar Party.

However, Muhayat said that Makmun and Ritola were named candidates by both Sutiyoso and Fauzi. "The governor and deputy governor would accept whoever is chosen by the council," he said.--JP.