Regent nominated as minister

YOGYAKARTA: United Development Party (PPP) supporters have nominated Sleman regent Arifin Ilyas as the next minister of home affairs because he is democratic.

At a rally over the weekend in Lumbungrejo field, Sleman, they said the regent had allowed all three parties to raise their flags without discrimination.

Ilyas, a local Golkar functionary, has also been praised for fairness by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Before campaigning began on April 27, Ilyas and his wife gave clothes to the PDI, Golkar and PPP to make banners and flags for campaigning.

"When the election is over, the three political organizations should join forces to develop Sleman," Mrs. Ilyas said when she presented the clothes to the three parties' representatives. (38)