Governor told to quit companies

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A faction at the West Nusa Tenggara legislature asked on Tuesday that Governor Harun Al Rasyid relinquish his post as chief commissioner in four provincial administration-owned companies.

Al Islami faction spokesman L. Mustakim told a plenary session at the legislature, attended by Harun, that the governor was violating Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and Article 4 on local government, which both ban governors from any involvement in local government businesses.

Mustakim said Harun had been repeatedly reminded of the law and asked to comply with the legislation, but had not yet responded.

"The governor maintains his posts in four companies and who knows how many other positions he holds in other firms," Mustakin said.

The plenary session was held to hear the factions' responses to the governor's annual progress report of his administration for 2001.

The faction, which groups several Muslim-based parties, fell short of demanding action be taken against the governor. -- Antara