W. Sumatra elects new governor

PADANG, West Sumatra: The provincial legislative council voted Saturday Brig. Gen. (ret.) Muchlis Ibrahim, currently West Sumatra deputy governor, as governor for the 1997-2002 period.

If his election is approved by President Soeharto, the 55-year old Muchlis will succeed governor Hasan Basri Durin who ends his term on Dec. 29, Antara reported.

Muchlis won 31 of the 45 votes at the election on Saturday.

The other contenders, Man Nas (chief of the West Sumatra Office of Ministry of Forestry) received eight votes and former Andalas University rector Fachri Ahmad got six.

A Class 1965 graduate of the National Military Academy who hailed from Bukittinggi, Muchlis last served in the military as inspector at the Bukit Barisan military command based in Medan. (emb)