N. Maluku to elect governor in July

JAKARTA: Acting North Maluku Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundayang revealed on Tuesday that the province's gubernatorial election would be held in July.

He said, however, the province would not have a governor until November as it would take a long time to select the administration lineup.

He said the candidates had to undergo 16 stages of screening before joining the race.

"We hope that a governor will be elected before Ramadhan (Islamic fasting month) in November," Sarundayang said at a hearing with legislators here.

Following a dispute over the governorship in North Maluku, the government appointed Sarundayang as acting governor in the province.

N. Maluku legislators elected Golkar's Abdul Gafur on July 5 last year but the decision was annulled due to alleged money politics. -- JP