Megawati tells Mardiyanto to be prudent in governing C. Java
The Jakarta Post, Semarang
President Megawati Soekarnoputri asked Central Java Governor Mardiyanto to use wisdom in governing the province over the next five years.
"I ask Pak Mardiyanto and Pak Ali Mufiz to do their tasks as governor and deputy governor respectively in a fair and wise manner," the President said in a prepared speech read by Home Minister Hari Sabarno during the swearing-in ceremony at the provincial legislative council building in Semarang on Saturday.
The minister, representing the President, swore in Mardiyanto as governor for the 2003-2008 period after he won reelection earlier this month.
Mardiyanto and his running mate Ali Mufiz, with the backing of the President and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), won by a single vote over Mardijo who was nominated by PDI Perjuangan's chapter in Central Java.
As it happened in Jakarta, Bali, East Java, North Sumatra and East Kalimantan, the President backed Mardiyanto to extend his tenure for the next five years in order to maintain security and political stability during the legislative elections in April, 2004, and the first ever direct presidential election in October.
Most of the governors who succeeded in extending their tenure for the next five years were retired generals, including Sutiyoso in Jakarta, Imam Utomo in East Java and Thamrin Nurdin in North Sumatra.
This policy has raised internal friction in PDI Perjuangan and sparked protests and criticisms from party supporters who accused Megawati of being undemocratic.
Rumors have been spreading that certain party figures have taken financial advantage of the policy in efforts to raise funds to contest the elections.
Also attending the ceremony were a number of politicians from the National Awakening Party (PKB), United Development Party (PPP), PDI Perjuangan and all regents and mayors in the province.
Mardijo, who was Mardiyanto's main rival in the gubernatorial election, was absent. He was dismissed as chairman of PDI Perjuangan's Central Java chapter for refusing to quit the gubernatorial race.
Provincial legislative council deputy chairman Ircham Abdurrachim hoped the governor would listen to the people's aspirations in settling any problems in the province.
Minister Hari Sabarno concurred and said the governor should adopt a moral and political commitment when handling "social diseases" in the province over the next five years.
"A governor has to be brave in making decisions and bylaws to treat 'social diseases' in accordance with the law," he said without elaborating.
He also said the governor should design a special program to eradicate the poverty that has denied the poor access to education and health service.
"The governor should enhance cooperation with relevant government agencies and departments to fight poverty," he said.