Gamawan set to win governorship

Gamawan set to win governorship

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Running mates Gamawan Fauzi and Marlis Rahman are almost certain
to win the gubernatorial election in West Sumatra as the
provisional tally indicates they are well ahead of other
contenders. The pair has grabbed 42.8 percent of the vote so far
or 713,930 votes out of total of 1,706,819.

Chief of the Education and Information Office at the West
Sumatra KPU, Husni Kamil Manik, said that the total number of
eligible voters was 2.9 million, but only 1.9 million people
voted in the elections. "The tally will end on Saturday, and we
will announce the winner," said Husni. Out of the 19 regencies
and cities in West Sumatra, Gamawan and Marlis won in 16 regions.

In other regencies and cities, Gamawan and Marlis, who were
nominated by the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), obtained between 30 percent
and 60 percent of the vote.

Gamawan and Marlis were way ahead of running mates Irwan
Prayitno and Ikasuma Hamid, and candidates Jeffrie Geovani and
Dasman Lanin who got 24.49 percent and 15.97 percent of vote
respectively.

Irwan and Ikasuma, and Geovani and Lanin were nominated by the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and a group of small parties,
respectively.

Two other pairs of candidates who got insignificant votes
during the elections were Leonardy Harmaini and Rusdi Lubis
nominated by the Golkar Party and Kapitra Ampera and Dalimi
Abdullah nominated by the United Development Party (PPP).

Responding to Gamawan's victory, Muchtar, 43, a petty trader,
said that he felt relieved. He believed that Gamawan would be
capable of leading the West Sumatra province as he had experience
in leading the Solok regency government in the province.

"I heard that he had actively combated corruption. Having been
elected governor, I hope that he will step up measures to combat
corruption in the province," said Muchtar. Gamawan won the Bung
Hatta Anticorruption Award earlier this year.

Separately, Padang Legal Aid Institute director Alvon Kurnia
Palma said that Gamawan was known for his high integrity, but the
public still had to monitor him in order to prevent any
irregularities during his term.

"Close monitoring is important as many anticorruption figures
and democracy activists violate their ideals after they enter
government office," said Alvon.