Harun awaits President's OK for governorial bid
Imanuddin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With President Megawati Soekarnoputri's approval being the only remaining requirement that Harun Alrasyid has to obtain before he can run for the Jakarta governorship, the incumbent West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) governor expects his candidacy to be confirmed soon.
"If I am to be allowed to run for the Jakarta governorship, I hope the (President's) approval will be given soon," Harun said in the West Nusa Tenggara capital of Mataram after receiving a delegation from the Jakarta City Council's Commission C for financial and budgetary affairs on Thursday.
He said the delay on the issuance of the President's approval was because the latter was very busy right now.
"It's up to the Jakarta City Council whether the Jakarta gubernatorial election committee can accept the reason for the delay in receiving the President's approval as the delay (on the issuance of the approval) is not our business," he said as quoted by Antara.
The West Nusa Tenggara governor hinted that the recommendation from the minister of home affairs, in connection with his participation in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, had been delivered to the presidential office long ago. It has been reported that the recommendation was received by the presidential palace on June 21.
It was reportedly mentioned in the home minister's recommendation that it was acceptable for an active governor in one province to be elected as governor in another province.
"Therefore, we'll leave the matter for the President to decide," he said.
Asked whether the President's approval was a determining factor in his candidacy, Harun said: "Based on the existing mechanism, there is no such requirement."
He, however, dismissed speculation that the delay was because one of his rivals in the race was the incumbent Jakarta governor, Sutiyoso, who has received Megawati's support.
"I don't think so ... Please do not relate the delay of the issuance of the approval to that issue ... It's now an era of openness and democracy."
The Jakarta gubernatorial election is scheduled for Sept. 17 this year.
Harun, the incumbent NTB governor, has secured the approval of the province's legislative council to run in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.
The former Jakarta deputy governor for economics and financial affairs is tipped as one of four strong candidates for the Jakarta governorship. He has expressed his readiness to contest the election despite earlier condemnation by NTB councillors.
The other three strong contenders are Governor Sutiyoso, incumbent Jakarta City Secretary Fauzi Bowo and incumbent Jakarta City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo.