Ismeth eyes governor position

BATAM, Riau Islands: After resigning from his position as Riau Islands' interim governor, Ismeth Abdullah also plans to resign from his post as head of the Batam Authority's board so he can become a candidate in the upcoming election of the province's governor.

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has approved my resignation as the interim governor so I can run for governor in the upcoming election," Ismeth told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

"I will also resign from my position as chairman of the Batam Authority board in the next one to two months," he added.

He replaced Fanny Habibie, brother of former president B.J. Habibie, as chairman of the Batam Authority board in 1999.

Ismeth will run in the election, slated for June this year, after Golkar Party named him its candidate for Riau Islands governor and Karimun Regent Muhammad Sani as deputy governor on March 17. -- JP