Rizal vies reelection as N. Sumatra governor

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

North Sumatra Governor Rizal Nurdin said on Friday he was ready to run for a second five-year term, although no political parties have so far nominated him.

Rizal told a media conference he would join the gubernatorial race only if his supporters nominated him unconditionally.

"I never asked anybody to give me this post, nor will I in the next gubernatorial election. I'm not an ambitious man. My task is to complete my term with flying colors," he said.

He also promised to refrain from offering money in exchange for votes.

Earlier in the day a group of activists from the provincial chapter of the Association of Islamic Student Alumni (PII), led by scholar Usman Pelly, paid a visit to Rizal in a show of support for his reelection.

In their statement the group said Rizal, a former Bukit Barisan Military commander overseeing North Sumatra, fit the bill for his strong leadership and achievements in improving the province.

"We hope Rizal Nurdin does not reject the support of any political party or community group for his reelection," Usman of the Medan-based North Sumatra University said.

The election will be held in June 2003. Only factions in the provincial legislative council will have the right to select gubernatorial candidates, according to the law.

Rizal's nomination extends the list of gubernatorial candidates for the 2003 to 2008 period.

The Golkar Party has nominated deputy governor Abdul Wahab Dalimunthe and deputy provincial legislature speaker Serta Ginting, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Rudolf Pardede and the United Development Party Hasrul Azwar.

All Rizal's contenders appeared confident about their chances of winning the gubernatorial election.

"With the blessing of the legislature, I will go for the election," Serta said.

Rudolf claimed his nomination was based on a mandate from his party. "I must comply with the party's policy," he said.