Deputy governor candidate endorsed despite PPP boycott

JAKARTA (JP): A City Council special plenary session endorsed Fauzie Alvi Yasin on Wednesday as the sole candidate for the post of deputy governor of economic and financial affairs, despite a boycott by members of the United Development Party faction.

Twenty-one members of the faction boycotted the session because, according to faction member Ali Imron Husein, approval for Fauzie Alvi's candidacy from the Ministry of Home Affairs was received about two hours before the session was held.

Due to the boycott, the session was attended only by 54 councilors.

"PPP members don't have time to hold a meeting to discuss the capability of Fauzie Alvi for the post ... let alone endorse him for it," Ali said.

"We have been fooled by the city administration, which claimed that approval was given in March.

"The approval letter was issued on April 20 and received by the administration and councilors only today," Ali said, giving copies of the permit to reporters.

"It was already signed by Edy Waluyo (City Council speaker) and Fauzi Bowo (city secretary) and stated that all city councilors endorsed the candidacy of Fauzie Alvi as deputy governor. This is manipulation of democracy," Ali said.

Councilor Afif Hamka said the approval letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs clearly stated that endorsement had to be given by all city councilors, not the council speaker alone.

Other PPP councilors said their refusal to attend the session was also meant to express their disapproval of Sutiyoso's decision to name only one candidate for the post.

The position, temporarily held by deputy governor of development affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi, has been vacant since the middle of last year after the then deputy governor of economic and financial affairs Harun Al Rasyid was promoted to governor of West Nusa Tenggara.

Fauzie Alvi is currently assistant to the city secretary in charge of administrative affairs.

Sutiyoso announced in February he would nominate Fauzie Alvi as the only candidate for the post after six potential candidates were screened by the Position and Stratification Advisory Body.

The five other nominees were city secretary Fauzi Bowo, head of the city's Development Planning Board Bambang Sungkono, head of city investment management Maskup Ustianto, head of the city inspectorate Sutardjianto and head of the PPP faction in the City Council Achmad Suaidy.

Sutiyoso's announcement was opposed by the PPP councilors, who demanded the process be based on newly endorsed Law No. 4/1999 on the formation and position of the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives and regional councils.

The law states that the City Council has the authority to elect the governor and deputy governors.

According to Afif, the boycott had nothing to do with the fact that Achmad was not named a candidate for the post.

"It's simply because administration officials are following the 1974 law which states that the City Council only has the right to approve candidates chosen by the administration."

Afif added that the era of reform should uphold democracy and not follow laws applied during the New Order rule.

Ali acknowledged that despite the boycott the session was technically "legitimate". But it was up to the public to determine its legitimacy.

"Let the public decide whether this was a legitimate session or not." (ylt)