Councillors asked to quit old jobs

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

Newly elected councillors in Banten province have been urged to give up their old jobs to become councillors or vice versa prior to their swearing-in, scheduled for Aug. 28.

Banten province General Elections Committee (KPUD) chairman Indra Abidin said on Monday that the regulation had been established in Ministry of Home Affairs Decree No. 160/885/OTDA, issued on July 20, 2004.

The decree stipulates councillors-elect must give up their jobs at least three days before being sworn in. Indra said that by Aug. 25, all councillors would no longer have more than one job, in an effort to enable them to fully concentrate on their new task.

The regulation applies to all elected councillors who run their own businesses, work at local administrations or currently serve as regency/municipality councillors.

However, the KPUD will not have the power to enforce the regulation as it does not have any sanction on those violating the rule.

Indra said that, for the time being, councillors violating the rule would receive only administrative sanction from the home ministry.

Two councillors at Tangerang municipality -- Burhanuddin of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and M.A. Chosim of the Golkar Party -- have submitted resignation letters to the council as they will be sworn in as Banten provincial councillors.

"We have delivered our resignation letters to the (municipal) council and they are now being processed," Chosim said.