JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – All mayors and regents across the country, associated in the Association of All Indonesian City Administrations (Apeksi) and The Association of All Indonesian Regency Administrations (Apkasi), opt to reject the controversial idea to erase direct election of regional leaders and reinstate the election of regional leaders by the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) at regency/municipality and provincial level.
The rejection has been delivered in a press briefing on Thursday (September 11) after a meeting of regional leaders across the country held at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta.
“We firmly reject the election of regional leaders to be returned to the DPRD. The people have their (constitutional) rights to directly vote, instead of middleman, their regional leaders,” said Apeksi Chairman Vicky Lumentut, Mayor of Manado, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil also asked for regional leaders to stage a rally at Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, Jakarta, to reject the controversial idea of reinstating the election of regional leaders by DPRD. Ridwan, who has been endorsed by Gerindra Party and PKS, was elected as Bandung Mayor last year.
As reported earlier, six factions of political parties at the House of Representatives (DPR) associated in the so-called Red-and-White coalition supported the proposal to erase direct election of regional leaders and reinstate the election of regional leaders by DPRD on the discussion of the Regional Election Bill (RUU Pilkada). They are Gerindra, Golkar, Democratic Party, PAN, PKS, and PPP. The coalition controls majority of seats at the DPR. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)