W. Sumatra governor resigns

W. Sumatra governor resigns

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said he
will appoint a caretaker to replace West Sumatra Governor Muchlis
Ibrahim, whose resignation was approved by President B.J. Habibie
on Wednesday.

"The Director General for Administration and Provincial
Autonomy (Ryaas Rasyid) will deal with the matter," he said after
swearing in Zainal Bakar as West Sumatra deputy governor on
Tuesday.

Muchlis, who rejected Zainal's nomination, announced his
resignation in West Sumatra's capital Padang on Tuesday.

He said Syarwan violated a ministerial rule by installing
Zainal without his recommendation.

"The minister also intervened in the election of the
Payakumbuh and Padangpanjang mayors," Muchlis told The Jakarta
Post in Padang.

"If I have been insulted three times, it means (the minister)
will continue to do so."

Muchlis' public protest on Monday is considered the first of
its type by a governor.

Syarwan denied he abused rules, saying input from councilors
and informal leaders should also be taken into account.

As a rule the caretaker is the director general for
administration and provincial autonomy. Ryaas said he would write
to the President to say he was too busy monitoring preparations
for the June polls and deliberating bills on regional autonomy
and fiscal balance.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said Muchlis' protest
was bizarre as Zainal had previously stated his willingness to
work with the new appointee, adding the appointment was legal.
(28/rms/prb)