North Maluku MPs root for Gafur

JAKARTA: North Maluku legislators have asked the House of Representatives (DPR) to back their choice for the province's governor and deputy governor.

In a meeting with House Speaker Akbar Tandjung here on Thursday, the 32 legislators asserted their demand was based on a special session of the provincial legislature (DPRD) on April 26 in which they elected Abdul Gafur and Thaib Armayn.

The gubernatorial election has been marred by controversy since it was held on July 5 last year in which Gafur and his running mate Yamin Tawary won the polls. The DPRD annulled the result of the poll claiming that the victory was due to money politics.

The April 26 special session was held a week after President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued Decree No. 54/2002 appointing Sinyo Sarundajang as acting governor.

Sarundajang said he had been assigned by the home minister to prepare another election because the previous one was invalid. -- JP