Golkar convention backs governor Serinata for second term in NTB

Panca Nugraha , The Jakarta Post , Mataram | Sat, 02/23/2008 4:44 PM | The Archipelago

The Golkar Party in West Nusa Tenggara has recommended governor H.L. Serinata contend the upcoming governor race for a second term in office.

The party also picked several other names to contend regent and mayoral elections in the province this year.

The recommendation was made at the conclusion of a party convention held to net qualified cadres to contend local elections. Serinata was chairman of the party's chapter in the province.

In his keynote speech on Friday, Golkar deputy chairman Agung Laksono told candidate-hopefuls to be careful of rivalry within the party.

"Let there be no rivalry, in order to prevent internal rifts," he said.

Chairman of the party's membership affairs department Syamsul Muarif, who accompanied Agung at the closing ceremony, expressed his hope every party member would accept the convention's nomination of Serinata.

"Those who lost are obliged to support the winners," he said.

He said Serinata, in turn, was obligated to seek a favorable figure as his running mate.

"We will ask the party's executive board (DPD) to propose three possible candidates to the central board for consideration," said Syamsul.

He emphasized that in the nomination of the vice governor candidate, local aspects should be considered. He hinted he or she should come from Sumbawa Island, one of the two major islands in the province.

Syamsul said several political parties had expressed their support for Serinata before the convention, adding they would likely form a coalition with Golkar.

Also during the convention, HM Nur, who gained 76 of the 100 votes contested, was picked as mayoral candidate for Bima.

Subhan, current speaker of the Bima municipal council, was able to hold off rivals H. Umar (Bima vice mayor) and Taufikhurrahman Saleh. Umar obtained 21 votes to Taufikhurrahman's three.

The convention for the selection of mayoral candidates for Bima city was also held at Hotel Novotel in Central Lombok, and led by Golkar Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara regional coordinator Enggar Lukito.

"We hope everyone can accept the outcome," said Enggar.

Golkar had earlier planned to hold the convention for West Nusa Tenggara governor candidates, Bima mayoral candidates and East Lombok regent candidates, three areas which will hold direct leadership elections in July.

But the convention for East Lombok was postponed, Engar said, due to a lack of consolidation.

Enggar denied allegations the postponement was due to East Lombok Regent Ali Dahlan's intention to take part in the convention.

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