News Focus : West Java`s would be governor should follow central government policy

By Bustanuddin

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - After casting a vote at polling booth (TPS) 03 in Nagrak village, Gunung Putri sub-district, Bogor on Sunday (April 13, 2008), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hoped the would be governor and vice governor of West Java would work in line with the central government`s policy.

"Based on the ethics of democracy, anyone elected as governor should make his policy in line with that of the head of government, that`s me who is holding the people`s mandate as president, nobody else," the president reminded.

Of course it is not unusual for the president to remind a governor or any other ranking official to conduct something in line with the government`s policy.

But on the occasion, the president seemingly felt it was important to call on the would be governor to act in accordance with the central government`s policy.

The three pairs competing on Sunday (April 13) in the gubernatorial election were Danny Setiawan (incumbent governor) and running mate Iwan Sulanjana, Agum Gumelar and running mate Nu`man Abdul Hakim (incumbent deputy governor), and Ahmad Heryawan and running mate Dede Yusuf.

They were competing for the gubernatorial post for the 2008-2013 term of office.

Yudhoyono expressed hope the would-be winner in the provincial gubernatorial elections not only assists the central government, but also meet the people`s expectations for an improved quality of education, healthcare, poverty alleviation and infrastructure.

The head of state also told the would be governor to overcome the staple food and energy shortages which have affected the life of the people.

Apart from that, the would be governor and vice governor are also expected to protect, lead the people and improve the quality of the life of the people of West Java.

Some 27 million of the province`s total of 39 million people came to 63,005 polling booths to cast their votes in West Java`s first direct gubernatorial election on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time.

Three of the contestants namely Agum Gumelar, Ahmad Heryawan and Dede Yusuf didn`t cast votes because they didn`t hold West Java`s identity cards as they are Jakarta citizens.

However, they visited several polling stations in the West Java capital of Bandung and in other areas to observe the votings.

In the meantime, Danny Setiawan cast vote at a polling booth (TPS-1) in Babakan Ciparay village, Sumur Bandung sub-district and his running mate Iwan Sulanjana in Cikeas, Bogor district.

Nu`man Abdul Hakim cast his vote in Cogondewah, Bandung district.

According to the provincial general election commission (KPUD), some 17,000 West Java police personnel, supported by 6,000 from Jakarta, were assigned to secure the direct election.

The Danny Setiawan-Iwan Sulanjana pair is supported by Golkar Party and Democrats Party, Agum Gumelar and Nu`man Abdul Hakim by several political parties including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

While Ahmad Heryawan and Dede Yusuf (film actor) are supported by the Justice and Prosperous Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Danny Setiawan (incumbent governor) was born in Purwakarta on August 28, 1945.

Agum Gumelar, born in Tasikmalaya, West Java on Desember 17, 1945, had a series of prestigious positions at national level, including as Transportation Minister (2001-2004), Governor of the Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), general chairman of the National Sports Committee (KONI) and Commander of regional Wirabuana Military command overseeing four provinces of Sulawesi island.

Ahmad Heryawan was born in Sukabumi district, West Java on June 16, 1966 was deputy chairman of the Jakarta Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) for the 2004-2009 period. He is one of noted figures of the younger generation.

The president asked the other candidates who were defeated on Sunday`s gubernatorial election, to respect and accept the decision of the provincial General Election Commission (KPUD) and called on their constituents to support the governor and vice governor-elect.

The head of state also called on the contestants who won the gubernatorial elections to perform their duty hand in hand with the central government.


For time being Hade leading

The result of the provisional vote tally of the gubernatorial elections based on quick count by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) and Public Issues Network (JIP) on Sunday showed Ahmad Heryawan and Dede Yusuf (HaDe) ranked first with 39.98 percent of the total number of votes, Agum-Nu`man (Aman) pair second with 35.42 percent and 25.36 percent for Danny-Iwan (Da`i).

"The results of the quick count put Hade pair as the provisional winner. However this is actually the victory of the people of West Java to fulfil their new dream," Ahmad Heryawan said on Sunday.

He believed that the result of the quick count would not be too far from the final results of votes count to be conducted by the West Java provincial election commission (KPUD).

Heryawan said he would try hard to meet all the social contract with the people of West Java if he won the gubernatorial race.

On the occasion, the Hade pair also expressed thanks to the people in the province for the trust.

"Let us work hard for the sake of the people of West Java. I am consistent to carry out the program of improving the social welfare of the people," Heryawan said.

Meanwhile Dede Yusuf, who is also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) said that the pair`s superiority in the provisional vote tally was the result of hard work.

The provincial general election commission (KPUD) stated it would not conduct a Quick Count in the direct elections, Setia Permana, chairman of the West Java KPUD said in Bandung last Friday, adding that The quick count system is not stipulated in KPUD`s regulation.

Although there is a stipulation in the decision on a quick count system , the general election commission will not apply it, Setya said.

KPUD is not authorized to apply the quick count system, he said, noting that in some cases the result of a quick count often led to controversies.

The final result of the West Java 2008 gubernatorial election will based on the KPU manual count, the result of which would be announced about a week after the election, Setia said. (*)
ANTARA NEWS 04/14/08 08:53