N. Sumatra governor may secure second term
Apriadi Gunawan and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Medan/Bandung
North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin is likely to secure a second term for the 2003-2008 period as President Megawati Soekarnoputri has given her blessing for him to contend the upcoming gubernatorial election.
The secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction at the North Sumatra provincial legislature, Idham Hasibuan, told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday that Megawati in her capacity as PDI Perjuangan chairwoman delivered a letter to the party's local chapter, instructing all faction members to give their political support for Rizal and his running mate Rudolf Pardede in the gubernatorial election.
"The letter signed by Megawati on April 18 has been disseminated to all faction members. As party cadres, we will comply with the party leadership's instruction," he said.
Beforehand, the PDI Perjuangan faction had named eight figures to contend the election, including Rizal and two other retired generals. The two others were Maj. Gen. (ret) Radja Kami Sembiring Meliala, former chief of the Trikora Military Command, and Lt. Gen. (ret) Amir Sembiring. Rizal is the former chief of the Bukita Barisan Military Command overseeing North and West Sumatra and Riau.
The faction which has 30 seats at the legislature, was slated to officially nominate the pair to the gubernatorial election committee at the provincial legislature's plenary session on Monday. The seven-member military/police faction is expected to support Rizal in the election.
Golkar Party with 17 seats, is scheduled to nominate Chaeruman Harahap, chief of the government prosecutor's office in Medan, and running mate Serta Ginting, deputy chairman of the provincial legislature.
The Reform faction with only eight seats, will nominate Amrun Daulay, director general of social development affairs at the Ministry of Social Affairs, and Baskami Ginting of the PDI Perjuangan faction.
Meanwhile, the West Java provincial legislative council is also expected to announce on Monday three gubernatorial candidates to contend the incoming gubernatorial election to replace outgoing governor R. Nuriana.
The PDI Perjuangan faction is expected to nominate Rudy Harsya Tanaya, chairman of the party's local chapter while the Golkar and National Awakening (PKB) factions are expected to nominate Maj. Gen. (ret) Tayo Tarmadi, former chief of the Siliwangi Military Command overseeing West Java.