Sutiyoso 'extends' his term by 25 days

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sutiyoso must really enjoy being governor, since he reported to President Megawati Soekarnoputri that his term concludes on Oct. 31, or 25 days later than it actually ends.

City Council chairman Edy Waluyo questioned on Wednesday this discrepancy, which occurred in a recent report from Sutiyoso to the President.

"Sutiyoso's term should end on Oct. 6 this year, since he was installed on the same date in 1997," Edy said at City Hall.

He asked the governor to explain why he told the President his term ended on Oct. 31, but said he did not believe there was a political motive behind the incident.

In his report to President Megawati on May 15, Sutiyoso said that his tenure concluded on Oct. 31.

According the government regulations, a governor must issue a report informing the president that his or her tenure is ending, at least six months before it does end.

Sutiyoso looked surprised when reporters asked him about the matter on Wednesday.

"I will check it. The report was checked by 10 people before it was sent," he said.

City administration spokesman Muhayat said the matter was just a technical error.

"I will check it. It has been checked by at least four people," Muhayat said.

But the discrepancy led to speculation that this "25-day extension" of Sutiyoso's term was related to the gubernatorial election in October.

Sutiyoso has already said that he is willing to be reelected to a second five-year term if the people want him.

The governor's annual budget speech was approved by the City Council last month, opening the way for Sutiyoso to stand in the election.

There are rumors that Sutiyoso has been making moves to sidetrack any potential competitors in the October election, including Edy Waluyo, City Secretary Fauzi Bowo and the City Council's deputy chairman, Tarmidi Suhardjo.

Edy also said on Wednesday that the council had approved Sutiyoso's request to move back his final accountability speech from June to the end of July.

This accountability speech is vital because if it is rejected by the council, Sutiyoso would be blocked from reelection.

The election will be determined by the council's 83 councillors. The largest party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which has 30 seats in the council, will play a significant role in the election.

The party earlier announced it would nominate party city chapter chairman Tarmidi and party central board deputy chairman Roy BB Janis.