West Java governor to be inaugurated
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung
West Java governor-elect Danny Setiawan and deputy Nu'man Abdul Hakim will be inaugurated on June 13 following the issuance of a presidential decree signed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on June 7.
West Java council speaker Eka Santosa received on Tuesday a copy of the decree, 84M/2003, which states that Danny is the governor and Nu'man is the deputy governor for the 2003 to 2008 term.
The issuance of the decree ends local politicians' confusion on the matter after the central government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, postponed a day earlier the inauguration, originally scheduled for June 9, without any explanation.
Incumbent governor R. Nuriana, whose term in office ends on June 8, received a telegram from the ministry saying that his tenure would be extended until July 8. He was also told to report directly to the home minister and not make any important decisions.
"I personally met the ministry's regional autonomy director- general, Oentarto Sindung Mawardi, in Jakarta today. He handed me a copy of the decree while the original is still in the home minister's hands," Eka said upon his arrival on Tuesday.
He also said that the issuance of the decree canceled any allegations that his party, the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), was behind the delay.
"By issuing the decree, Ibu Megawati as PDI Perjuangan chairwoman accepts our candidate's defeat in running for the gubernatorial election," he said.
PDI Perjuangan earlier nominated Rudy Harsa Tanaya as the deputy governor and Tayo Tarmadi as the governor. The nomination was backed up by the National Awakening Party (PKB).
However, they were defeated by Danny and Nu'man who were nominated by the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP).
Danny garnered 49 of the 100 ballots that were cast, while Tayo secured 39 during the election on May 22. Eleven councillors abstained and one other walked out.
Despite the relief over the decree being finally issued, there were still questions about the date it was signed. The presidential decree was signed on June 7, the exact same day that the home minister sent a telegram to Nuriana in extending his tenure.
"It seems that there was a lack of coordination between the President and the minister. We were just discussing extending Nuriana's tenure when suddenly the presidential decree was issued," said Tatang Kastolani, a PKB councillor.
West Java deputy council speaker Suyaman quickly assembled a committee meeting to discuss the inauguration ceremony.
"Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno is likely to inaugurate Danny and Nu'man at the Merdeka building on Jl. Asia Afrika after Friday prayers," he said.