New Tangerang mayor installed

TANGERANG (JP): West Java Governor H.R. Nuriana installed on Monday Mochammad Thamrin, a former secretary to the Tangerang administration, as the new Tangerang mayor to serve for the 1998/2003 period.

Thamrin replaces Djakaria Machmud, who faced a series of demonstrations during the last days of his term against his alleged corrupt and nepotistic practices.

Djakaria served the mayoralty, home to hundreds of large export-oriented companies, for eight years and seven months.

The new mayor was elected in a plenary session of the local mayoralty council on Sept. 29. Thamrin garnered 19 of the 45 available votes during the session which was also attended by Djakaria.

Two other candidates, Bandung Deputy Mayor Endjang Sudarsono and Cirebon Mayoralty Secretary Nana Suryana, received 14 and seven votes respectively.

As if having no idea about the protests connected to Djakaria's alleged malfeasance, Governor Nuriana expressed his gratitude to the outgoing mayor, saying that Djakaria had succeeded in constructing new roads, repairing old ones, promoting sports and attracting investors to develop malls, business and commercial centers.

"Djakaria is one of West Java's most prominent developers," Nuriana said.

The ceremony was safeguarded by a cordon of 200 military and police personnel. (41/ylt)