Suwardi firm on promotion plan

SEMARANG (JP): Central Java Governor Suwardi said yesterday he would promote 100 district chiefs, whose areas recorded a more than 90 percent victory for the ruling Golkar faction in the May election.

"I will soon promote 100 of 550 district chiefs in Central Java for their achievements in political and security development. They deserve this because they brought victory to Golkar. If it was possible, I would promote them as regents," Suwardi told reporters.

His statement comes in the midst of severe criticism by local legislators and scholars who charge that Suwardi's policy could create unrest within the local government system.

Suwardi is planning to give an automatic three-grade promotion, from IIIB to IVA, to relevant district chiefs.

The promotion is yet another controversial move by Suwardi who, in April, prior to the election, ordered every regent and district head in Central Java to paint everything yellow, a policy known as "yellowization".

Yellow is the color people identify with Golkar.

The yellowization policy also drew fierce criticism from the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

As he did in April, Suwardi said he would remain steadfast in his decision.

Central Java legislator M. Toyfoer of PPP blasted the governor's decision. "The governor's move is certainly not educative...besides it's illogical to regard a Golkar victory as being an achievement in political development," he said.

Toyfoer said Suwardi's move would create a jealous situation between civil servants, arguing that Golkar's victory should not be attributed to one group of people alone, since many helped bring about the result.

Lecturer Adi Nugroho of Diponegoro University also blasted Suwardi's move and satirically suggested that anyone who had anything to do with Golkar's victory should be promoted.

"If necessary, university rectors should also be promoted. (And) if they reach the top of their positions, then increase their enumeration," Adi said.

Suwardi himself remained unmoved by the arguments presented against him. "If other people are jealous, then its their own problem," he said.

"Those who have achieved much will surely get promoted. Not only district chiefs, but other high-achieving civil servants will get promoted as well. Why be jealous?," he said.

He also said that apart from scoring a victory for Golkar during the election, the district chiefs also succeeded in economic, social and cultural development of their respective areas. (har/aan)