Jakarta could see a direct gubernatorial election

Jakarta could see a direct gubernatorial election

Kurniawan Hari and Fabiola Desi Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta could see a direct election for the next governor if the
House of Representatives' (DPR) plan to revise Law No. 34/1999 on
Jakarta's provincial administration materializes soon.

Chairman of the House's Legislation Body (Baleg), Zein
Badjeber, submitted the draft of the law revision on Wednesday to
the House secretary-general Sitti Nurhajati Daud.

According to Zein, the draft revision was supported by 21
legislators from various factions.

Among the signatories were Manasse Malo of the National
Awakening Party (PKB), Nyoman Gunawan of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Tumbu
Sarawasati of PDI Perjuangan.

"It will be announced at a plenary meeting tomorrow
(Thursday)," Zein told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday.

He revealed that after the law was revised, it would be the
legal basis for a direct gubernatorial election for the capital
city.

Zein, a senior politician of the United Development Party
(PPP), hoped the revision could be passed into law in October
during which President Megawati Soekarnoputri would appoint an
acting governor to replace Sutiyoso.

The acting governor of Jakarta would have the task of making
preparations for a direct gubernatorial election. "The election
can be held in May next year at the latest," Zein added.

According to him, the revision of Law No. 34/1999 was in line
with the wishes of the people as shown in the statement issued by
the association of provincial legislative councils during its
meeting in Bangka recently.

Although legislators' hopes are high, current realities would
make it too difficult to have a direct gubernatorial election in
Jakarta.

Sutiyoso's tenure will end in October, and the City Council is
scheduled to elect a new governor in September.

Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said Jakarta
deserved to have a different regulation for gubernatorial
elections as the capital city and the President should know the
candidates for the position.

"However, the role of the President is simply to check the
background of each candidate while the election remains in the
hands of the City Council," Hari said.

The minister was commenting the difference between regulations
in connection with the gubernatorial election in Jakarta, where
the President should be informed of the names of the candidates
before the election.

Such a regulation does not apply to other provinces where the
President only receives the name of the future governor and then
signs the decree for his or her installation.

Hari maintained that the President would not interfere in the
election and such a regulation was not against the Autonomy Law
that gives full authority to the City Council to elect a
governor.

"Furthermore, it was the decision of the City Council to give
the names of the candidates," he remarked.