Harun violates regulation on gubernatorial candidacy

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The incumbent West Nusa Tenggara Governor, Harun Alrasyid, who earlier registered as a gubernatorial candidate, violated election regulations by not submitting presidential approval on Monday, which was the closing date for registration.

According to Article 4 of the regulation, a governor from outside Jakarta should obtain permission from their legislative body and gain presidential approval if they want to join the election.

Registration for city gubernatorial candidates closed on Friday, but the election committee extended it until Monday to allow the candidates to complete all the requirements.

City Council spokesman Rubingan said Harun only submitted a notification letter from Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno stating presidential approval was still being processed.

"The approval could not be signed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri because she is in Bali. However, since the letter is from the minister, we will consider it," Rubingan said.

He said the election committee would hold a meeting on Wednesday to decide whether they would accept Harun's candidacy or not.

Harun, who was city deputy governor for economic and financial affairs in 1998, reportedly invited several councillors from the United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent and Star Party (PBB) to a meeting at Hotel Borobudur on Sunday in an effort to seek their support.

On Monday, election committee members appointed council deputy chairman M. Suwardi as the election chairman, replacing Maj. Gen. Edy Waluyo who resigned to register as a candidate.

But activists urged Edy, who is also the council chairman, to also retire from the military -- and therefore automatically from the City Council -- as has been instructed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief.

As many as 73 gubernatorial candidates and 47 vice gubernatorial candidates registered themselves to the election committee last Friday.

Among the candidates are the city administration's top officials, including City Governor Sutiyoso, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi, Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Affairs Djailani and City Secretary Fauzi Bowo.

Their candidacies have apparently disrupted their "unity" at work.

Their weekly meetings held every Monday are usually attended by high-ranking officials, but they have been canceled three times in the last three weeks.

During the two-hour meetings, which usually start at 8 a.m., Governor Sutiyoso listens to reports from officials and gives his instructions.

Sutiyoso denied on Monday the gubernatorial election race had disturbed the administration's working atmosphere.

"It's a coincidence that the deputy governors have separate agendas to attend to this morning. I can meet them on other occasions," he told reporters on Monday.