North Maluku MPs root for Gafur

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