Serang residents seek gifts for voting Golkar

SERANG, West Java (JP): Now that Golkar's landslide victory is a forgone conclusion, regent Sukron Roshadi is a captive of his election promises to give away goats, water buffaloes and motorbikes.

During campaigning, Sukron generously promised to buy goats, buffaloes and motorcycles for neighborhoods, villages and subdistricts in which Golkar won 100 percent of the vote.

Since Sunday, people have flocked to the Serang electoral committee's office -- which is headed by the regent -- to demand that he meet his promises, Antara reported.

The committee's secretary, Adang Muchita, acknowledged Sunday that some officials overseeing ballot counting in their neighborhoods had gone directly to the regent to request the prizes.

Sukron promised to give three goats to any of the regency's several hundred polling stations where the government-backed Golkar won 100 percent of votes.

Three water buffaloes were promised for any village where Golkar had a 100 percent victory and three motorcycles for any subdistrict where the party secured an absolute victory.

Committee spokesman Hariyoto said the government had not yet listed neighborhoods, villages and subdistricts where Golkar had won 100 percent of votes.

But in Carenang subdistrict alone, Golkar reportedly swept 100 percent of the vote at 20 polling stations. Four villages were reported to have spared no votes for Golkar's rivals.

Three subdistricts are also entitled to three motorcycles each because they snatched 90 percent or more of the vote.

Golkar boosted its majority share in this regency from 57 percent in 1992 to 71.7 percent in this election. It secured 26 seats in the regency legislative council this year up from 21 seats five years ago. (pan)