Election of deputy governor disputed

JAKARTA (JP): The process of electing a deputy governor for economic and financial affairs still is adjourned because city councilors and city administration officials cannot agree on the rules of the election process, councilors said.

Azwar Abbas of the United Development Party's (PPP) faction in the City Council and Lukman Mokoginta of the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) faction in the City Council said on Thursday councilors demanded the election 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 the Regional Council.

The law stipulates the City Council has the authority to choose the governor and deputy governors.

Administration officials, however, want the process to follow a 1974 law which states the City Council only has the right to approve candidates chosen by the administration.

City councilors "want the nomination process to be based on the new law so we can play a role in electing the deputy governor and not only serve as a rubber stamp for the administration's decisions," Azwar said.

Administration officials were unwilling to comment on the issue.

However, a senior official, who asked for anonymity, backed the councilors position, saying the city administration should follow the new law.

"But so far, we have no idea whether the governor will support the councilors or not," he said.

Last month, Governor Sutiyoso announced he would nominate the assistant to the city secretary in charge of administrative affairs, Fauzie Alvi Yasin, as the only candidate for the post, which had been vacant for seven months.

Sutiyoso said Fauzie, 58, was nominated -- after being screened, along with five other possible nominees, by the Position and Stratification Advisory Body -- because he had adequate experience in handling the economic and financial affairs of the city administration.

He said the nomination of Fauzie already had been submitted to the City Council.

The five other nominees screened by the body were city secretary Fauzi Bowo, head of the city development planning agency Bambang Sungkono, head of city investment management Maskup Ustianto, head of the city inspectorate office Sutardjianto and head of the PPP faction in the City Council Achmad Suaidy.

The position has been vacant since then deputy governor for economic and financial affairs Harun Al Rasyid was promoted to governor of West Nusa Tenggara.

The position temporarily is being handled by the deputy governor for development affairs, Budihardjo Sukmadi.

It remains unknown when city councilors and administration officials will next meet to discuss the issue. (ind)