Governor warned about habits

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: General elections give Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin headaches and not because of the funding his administration has to allot, but people's demands for him to stop his habits.

Antara reported that a nongovernment election watchdog, Unfrel, and a party official have raised complaints over a trademark statement Kaimoeddin was overheard saying while addressing his staff and a favorite song he chanted at a series of functions.

The protesters accused the governor of campaigning for ruling Golkar with his insinuative remarks "civil servants are everywhere but they will go nowhere".

For Unfrel, the statement implied Kaimoeddin's request for civil servants not to leave Golkar despite the new government decree which bars them from involvement in political parties.

And what's behind the governor's enthusiasm to sing an old song, "I'm Still the Way I Was"? Chief of Nahdlatul Ummat Party branch here, Abdul Kadir, accused Kaimoeddin for discouraging civil servants to make their own choices.

But Kaimoeddin takes the allegations lightly, and hints that he will not change the way he acts.

"Never misunderstand my statements. The statement, which first came from noted Muslim cleric Zainuddin MZ, means that civil servants should not side with any political group but the people," Kaimoeddin said after a meeting with officials of Kolaka regency.

"And what's wrong with my favorite song? Everybody has his or her own liking," he added. (amd)