Makassar prepares for direct elections

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Provincial Legislative Council here is finalizing a new regulation on direct gubernatorial elections to come into effect next year in tandem with the implementation of regional autonomy.

"We are working on the concept. We hope that it will become a pilot project in Indonesia," Abustam of the Council's Commission A for legal and administrative affairs said on Tuesday.

He claimed that the regulation could be used as a model for future direct presidential elections and that it could also be applied in the country's other provinces.

It has been argued that direct gubernatorial elections would effectively reduce the incidence of money politics.

Abustam said Governor HZB Palaguna has agreed to the bill.

"He agreed with the idea and said that the important thing is to establish the mechanisms and rules," Abustam said. (27/edt)