Golkar takes Bekasi speaker post

BEKASI: The Golkar Party faction scored another success in taking the speakership of Bekasi municipal council, following its success in Jakarta and Tangerang municipal councils.

Rachmat Effendi of the Golkar Party was elected as Bekasi's new speaker, after defeating Achmad Syaikhu of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction with 25 votes against 18.

Just like in Jakarta, the election in Bekasi became controversial when Syaikhu alleged that Golkar had "betrayed" his faction, because the party and the Democratic Party had signed a deal to vote for the PKS candidate.

PKS faction leader Wahyu Prihantono said he would reveal the signed deal to the public.

"Rahmat Effendi wins since Golkar has betrayed the PKS by ignoring the deal," Wahyu said. -- Antara