PPP supports Fauzi Bowo in gubernatorial race

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city chapter of the United Development Party (PPP) announced on Monday that it would throw its support behind current City Secretary Fauzi Bowo as its strongest candidate for governor.

PPP, the third largest in the city council with 12 seats, has also defied its party chairman, Hamzah Haz, who reportedly supports the reelection of Governor Sutiyoso.

The faction chairman, Chudlary Syafei Hadzami, said the party's branches made the decision during a meeting on Sunday.

"We are committed to supporting a Betawi (Jakarta native) candidate and Fauzi is the strongest. His name will be brought to our chairman for an approval," said Chudlary, who is also the council's deputy speaker.

He said that Vice President Hamzah's support of Sutiyoso, was just a suggestion and could be changed if the party democratically proposed another name.

Fauzi, a German-trained engineer, is also reportedly supported by councillors from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Golkar Party.

PAN which earlier nominated its party's city chapter chairman Daniel Abdullah Sani reportedly retracted their support for the unpopular Daniel and switched to Fauzi.

Several non-governmental organizations, including the influential Native Jakartan Association (Bamus Betawi), have also supported Fauzi, who has Betawi blood from his mother.

Fauzi, who comes from a wealthy family which includes former president Soeharto's personal aide, the late Soedjono Hoemardani, is the richest official currently in the administration with his wealth reaching Rp 17 billion, higher than Sutiyoso's of Rp 15 billion, according to the Audit Commission for State Officials' Wealth.

Sutiyoso confirmed that Fauzi, as his subordinate, had asked a permission to run in the gubernatorial election which is slated on Sept. 17.

"His letter is on my desk but I haven't signed it," he told reporters, adding that he gave chances to his subordinates to run in the election.

PPP's support for Fauzi could be viewed as a real blow for Sutiyoso, who had earlier received support from Hamzah and President Megawati Soekarnoputri who is also chairwoman of the largest party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

PDI Perjuangan's city chapter chairman, Tarmidi Suhardjo, also a candidate, said earlier that the party, with 30 seats, still supported him for governor despite Megawati's support for Sutiyoso.