Tangerang postpones local polls

Tangerang postpones local polls

TANGERANG (JP): The committees organizing the sub-district
elections in the city have postponed the date in the five
districts due to a lack of candidates, an official of the
Tangerang administration said yesterday.

Erna Karlina, spokesperson for the Tangerang administration,
told The Jakarta Post that the election of the five sub-district
leaders was postponed when only a single candidate showed any
interest.

Elections have been postponed in Kademangan in Serpong
district, Wanakerta in Pasar Kemis district, Caringin in Cisoka
district, Surya Bahari in Pakuhaji district and Kadawung in
Kronjo district.

Erna said that the decision was made in line with regulations,
which require such measures if only one candidate is fielded.

"Actually, the elections in each sub-district were joined by
two candidates. But after having failed the tests required by the
committee, some of them were disqualified," she said.

The committee is currently urging other candidates to
register, she said, adding that the registration is open to all
local residents interested.

Data at the Tangerang administration show that elections in
the five sub-districts are part of this year's one-month election
season in 50 sub-districts from 15 districts throughout the city,
launched between Nov. 12 and Dec. 12.

Similar to last year, current elections have also been marred
by a number of protests staged by supporters of disqualified
candidates.

In the past, protests have dealt with the falsified education
certificates used by winning candidates and the unfair election
procedures.

Ismet Iskandar of the Tangerang administration suggested that
there was nothing special about such protests. "They are part of
the governmental process, which is conducted democratically," he
said. (13/hhr)