Regent election may be repeated

SURABAYA: East Java Governor Imam Utomo has entrusted the prolonged dispute over the election of the Sampang regent in Madura to the local legislative council, who will decide whether or not to hold the elections again.

Imam said on Tuesday that the minister of home affairs had the authority to settle the debate over the validity of regent-elect Fadhilah Budiono.

"If the local legislative council plans to repeat the election process, just go ahead. It's the council itself which has the power to do it," the governor said.

Imam made the remarks in response to a demand by 300 Muslim ulemas from Sampang, who agreed with the idea of repeating the election process.

"The election should be held again to help end the dispute in Sampang, thereby preventing it from hindering development of the local social welfare programs," the ulemas said in a statement.

Fadhilah, who was elected Sampang regent last September, has yet to be inaugurated following protests from several factions at the local legislative council that the election result was not valid because two councillors who had resigned from the council had cast ballots. (nur)