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)