Governor warned about habits

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)