Minister names acting Lampung governor

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has made one of his aides the acting governor of Lampung and has suspended swearing in the elected head of the province's administration as the latter faces corruption charges, local officials said on Tuesday.

Spokesman for the Lampung government Adehan confirmed the appointment of Tursandi Alwi, current head of research and development at Hari's office, to the post.

Tursandi served under the caretaker Gorontalo governor.

"The home minister is in Lampung today (Tuesday) and he will officially introduce the acting governor to senior officials of the provincial administration on Wednesday," Adehan was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Tursandi's appointment was also confirmed by Lampung administration secretary Herman Achmad.

Minister Hari had said he would name an acting governor last week when the then outgoing governor, Oemarsono, whose five-year term ended last month, handed over his power to the minister before Oemarsono's successor was sworn in.

The Lampung legislative council elected M. Alzier Dianis Thabrani as the new governor and Ansory Yunus as his deputy in December for the 2003-2008 period.

The pair defeated Oemarsono and his running-mate, who were supported by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Apparently unhappy with the election outcome, Megawati postponed the issuance of a presidential decree to approve the election of Alzier and Ansory.

The lack of endorsement by Megawati delayed the inauguration of the newly elected governor indefinitely.

The President only issued a decree recommending Oemarsono leave his post and another decree authorizing Minister Hari to appoint an acting governor in charge of administrative control in Lampung.

Also barring Alzier from taking over the gubernatorial post are the corruption charges against him that the police have produced.

Alzier was scheduled to be sworn in as the new Lampung governor on Jan. 25, one day before his predecessor ended his term of office.

Adehan further said the appointment of Tursandi as the acting governor would immediately end the controversy surrounding the top post in the province.

Tursandi will hold the position until Megawati endorses replacements for Oemarsono and his deputy and the pair are sworn in, Adehan said.

He confirmed that the home minister had also named an acting regent for Tenggamus district in Lampung because the regent-elect and his deputy would not be inaugurated as yet for unclear reasons.

"We have received information that the acting Tenggamus regent is Idrus Djaendarmuda, who is currently the head of the Lampung supervisory board," Adehan said.