Golkar replaces rebel chief councilor in N. Sumatra

Apriadi Gunawan ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Medan   |  Wed, 02/27/2008 12:08 PM  |  The Archipelago

The Golkar party has asked for the replacement of a chief councilor in North Sumatra after he was dismissed from the party for violating internal rules.

The party sent a letter to the North Sumatra provincial legislative council requesting the replacement of Abdul Wahab Dalimunthe, who had sought candidacy for governor without the party's approval.

The letter was signed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and handed over by functionaries of the party's provincial chapter to the legislature's leadership here on Tuesday.

"The party has prepared its cadres to take over (Abdul's) current positions both in the party and in the legislative council. He should give his legislative seat and his leadership at the legislature to Golkar following his recent dismissal," said vice secretary of the party's provincial chapter Amas Muda.

Amas said his party had dismissed Abdul from the provincial legislative council simultaneously with his dismissal from the party, and had appointed Hanafiah, another senior party figure, to take over Abdul's seat and position at the legislature.

According to the 2004 law on the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives, Regional Representatives and provincial and regency legislatures, party leaders have the right to replace their lawmakers both at the House and provincial and regency legislatures.

The move followed the dismissal of Abdul and Langkat Regent Syamsul Arifin for running their candidacy for the governor race without approval from the party's executive board.

The party had recently prohibited its cadres to contend local elections, at the penalty of dismissal, and the executive board has nominated Binjai mayor Ali Umri as governor-hopeful in the governor race scheduled for April 16.

Abdul is running with political support from the Democrat Party, the National Mandate Party and the Reformed Star Party, while Syamsul was nominated by 12 minority parties including the United Development Party, the Justice and Prosperity Party and the Crescent Star Party.

Amas, also a member of the provincial legislature's Commission A on administrative affairs at the legislature, considered the move valid because the men were no longer party members.

"He (Dalimunthe) is no longer a member of Golkar because he has been dismissed. Thus, there's no reason for him to retain his positions at the legislature," said Amas.

North Sumatra legislative council acting chairman Hasbullah Hadi confirmed on Tuesday that his office was considering the decision to dismiss Dalimunthe from the legislature.

He said there were several matters to take into consideration.

"It's a legal process. We don't want to be blamed later, and that's why we are still studying every aspect of the issue, including administrative requirements and others," said Hasbullah.

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