Regent election may be repeated

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)