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.