Suwardi firm on promotion plan

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)