NTB governor seeks reelection

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Incumbent Harun Al Rasyid is the favorite of three Golkar candidates who are running for governor in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Harun was supported by more than 31,000 signatories, while fellow party members Lalu Serinate, who is the provincial legislature's speaker, and People's Consultative Assembly legislator Mesir Suryadi had 1,690 and 510 supporters respectively.

While Golkar has said nothing of Harun's nomination, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle has expressed support for the incumbent governor.

Deputy chairman of Golkar's provincial chapter Syaiful Islam said the organization had proposed Mesir for the gubernatorial post.

The chapter had earlier picked Harun as the party's candidate, but the party faction at the provincial legislature failed to respond.

Syamsul, nevertheless, gave Harun credit for leading the province to curb maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate and increase economic growth and revenues. -- JP