Panwaslu chairman demoted

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Mohammad Yusuf, the chairman of the Banggai Kepulauan regency Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), has been fired from the chairmanship post due to negligence of his duties -- the first such case in the country in the run up to legislative election on April 5.

Aminuddin Kasim, a top official at the Panwaslu's Central Sulawesi province, said that the decision was made during a plenary meeting held by executives of the both Banggai Kepulauan regency and Central Sulawesi Election Supervisory Committee.

Kasim said that Yusuf was demoted because he often skipped work without an explanation.

"He often goes out of town without clear reasons, and it affects the performance of Panwaslu in the Banggai Kepulauan regency," Kasim said on Saturday.

Yusuf has been replaced by fellow Panwaslu member Asmy Bangkitan.

However, despite the decision, Kasim said that Yusuf would retain his position as a regular member of Panwaslu in Banggai Kepulauan regency. -- Antara