Direct gubernatorial election sought

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives' plenary session approved on Monday the House's initiative bill revising Law No. 34/1999 on Jakarta administration, including the application of a direct gubernatorial election.

Spokesman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Manase Malo said his faction viewed the direct election as the people's will, Antara reported.

Manase said that the direct election was in line with the current amendment to the State Constitution on direct presidential elections.

However, some factions, including the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police faction, agreed but questioned the bill, which stated the direct gubernatorial election should be conducted at least in May of next year.

"It could become a new problem as the governor for the period of 2000-2007 has been elected," the faction's spokesman Kohirin Suganda Saputra said.--JP