West Java to go ahead with gubernatorial election

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

West Java will go ahead with the gubernatorial election scheduled for May 10, although the central government has yet to approve the two gubernatorial candidates to contend the election, says a legislator.

Syarif Bastaman, a member of the gubernatorial election committee, said here on Monday that the committee had sent the names of the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates to Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno for his approval, but they had not received any response so far.

"We expect the central government's response to the four candidates within the next two days," he said, adding that under the law, the minister had 14 days to review the candidates.

The committee has officially named two gubernatorial candidates with their respective running mates to contend the gubernatorial election.

Tayo Tarmadi and his running mate Rudy Harsya Tanaya were nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) factions, while Danny Setyawan and his running mate Nu'man Abdul Hakim were nominated by the Golkar Party and the United Development Party (PPP) factions.

By law, the provincial legislative council is allowed to nominate three gubernatorial candidates, or a minimum of two candidates, and the candidates must be approved by the government before the election can be held. The government's approval is needed because a governor is considered to be not only the head of a province, but also the central government's representative to a province.

Syarif said that, "The legislative council will go ahead with its election, even if all the candidates have not yet been approved by the central government."

The gubernatorial election will be held to elect the successor to governor Nuriana, whose term in office will end on June 8.

In a related development, hundreds of youths supporting Tayo and Rudy held a demonstration at the provincial legislative compound, demanding the provincial legislature to go ahead with the gubernatorial election according to schedule.

Syarif said that 80 percent of the preparations for the election was already complete.

In order to prevent councillors from being bribed for their votes, the committee would coordinate with local security authorities and "quarantine" all 100 councillors at hotels in the city a few days before the election.

"All councillors will spend their days and nights at several five-star hotels to ensure their attendance at the gubernatorial election and to discourage them from taking bribes," he said.

Bandung Police Precinct Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Irwanto said he had coordinated with the military stationed in the area to maintain security during the election.