Regent makes move against nepotism

JAKARTA (JP): Bogor Regent Eddie Yoso Martadipura has abruptly canceled the appointment of his son-in-law Iskandar as the new head of the town's planning agency, saying that the latter has not yet received the governor's decree for the job.

Eddie was supposed to install Iskandar together with other senior officers on Friday.

A day before the installation ceremony, dozens of local businesspeople thronged into the council chamber, demanding the cancellation of Iskandar's appointment as part of the reform movement to end nepotistic practices.

According to the entrepreneurs, Iskandar was chosen for the appointment by leapfrogging over the normal procedural requirements.

The protesters also urged the councilors to probe the business practices of Eddie's son, Dani, who they said was involved in a series of megaprojects organized by the regency office.

The projects allegedly included the development of the Rp 1 billion new regency office complex at Cibinong, the Rp 1.3 billion regent's official residence and the Rp 10 billion Islamic Center, they were quoted by Antara as saying.

"Almost all megaprojects here fall into the hands of Eddie's son and relatives," said head of the Bogor chapter of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Kaswarin.

The businesspeople also demanded that town council speaker Eso Soekarso resign for his alleged collusion during his two five- year terms with the Bogor regent. This reportedly made the council unable to properly control the regency office's actions. (bsr)