Governor Against Returning To Old System of Electing Regional Leaders

Ternate (Antara Maluku) - North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba, who is a cadre of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said he is against the draft law on regional elections favored by a coalition of which PKS is a member. `

"I am of the opinion, that we have made progress in direct election. The impact is good and the progress is significant in developing better quality democracy in the past 10 years," Abdul Gani said here on Monday.

The coalition led by Gerindra, a party founded by Prabowo Subianto, who lost the recent presidential election, called for a return to the old system under which regional leaders including governors would be elected by regional legislative assembly (DPRD).

The system had been abandoned in the two elections in the past 10 years replacing with direct election by the people.

PKS is one of the strongest factions favoring the old election system giving the power to elect regional leaders to DPRD.

He said direct election gave the people political education that the people choose their leaders directly themselves.

"Under direct election system, the people choose the candidate they think the best for them. It would be a setback if we adopt the old system we abandoned 10 years ago," he said.

Abdul Gani won a gubernatorial election under direct election in 2013 with running mate Natsir Thaib.

He said regional leaders including governors, regent and city mayors should be elected by the people themselves.

He said only politicians with a lot of money would have the chance to win election by the regional legislators .

He said his rejection of old system favored by his party is personal not representing the party .

He said, however, as a cadre he feel sad that he could not support his party decision .

A regional leader of PKS Saiful Ahmad said the rejection by the governor of the draft law is personal, adding the regional branch of the party would remain loyal and fully support the policy of the central executive board of the party.

Saiful said , as a cadre, Abdul Gani Kasuba should support the policy of the party.

"If he decided to oppose the PKS policy he should give up as cadre of the party as cadres of other parties had done," he said.

Abdul Gani is not the only regional leaders who are members of the coalition parties rejecting the return to the old system

Jakarta vice Governor Basuki Purnama or Ahok, who was a cadre of Gerindra, even decided to quit the party in protest of the move to return old system .

"I would not become vice governor of Jakarta if the power to elect regional leaders were given to DPRD," Ahok said.

"I would never bow to DPRD, and I would not serve the interest of DPRD. I was elected by the people," he added.

Gerindra was a minority party when Ahok and Governor Joko Widodo won the gubernatorial election two years earlier in Jakarta.

The draft law has triggered a big controversy with strong rejection from factions of minority coalition in the House of Representatives, and many non governmental institutions and observers .

Even the government, who submitted the draft law earlier has changed position in favor of direct elections.