Ciamis, Garut could go to second round of elections

The regencies of Garut and Ciamis in West Java may need second rounds for their regency elections as no candidates managed to get 30 percent of votes as of Monday.

The elections were held Sunday, together with those in Cirebon, Majalengka and Subang regencies as well as the Banjar municipality.

Chairman of the Garut General Elections Commission (KPUD) Iqbal Santoso said no candidates had received at least 30 percent of the approximately 1 million votes cast as of 3 p.m.

"I have met Garut regency secretary Wowo Wibowo and asked for Rp 11 billion (US$1 million) from the regency budget to organize the second round election," he said.

There were seven pairs of candidates contesting in Garut, including three independents.

The tally was led by Aceng Fikri of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and his partner TV star Dicky Chandra, with 20.3 percent.

Their closest contenders are Rudy Gunawan and Oim Abdurrohim, supported by the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) with 22.9 percent of votes.

In Ciamis, incumbent Engkon Komara and Iing Syam Arifin, nominated by Golkar, garnered 26 percent of the vote followed by Jeje Wiradinata and Husin Al Banjari who received 20 percent.

Jeje and Husin were proposed by the PDI-P and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Ciamis acting regent Dayat Hidayat said the administration had earmarked Rp 10 billion for the second round election, after spending Rp 14 billion initially.

"We have communicated with the legislature and it seems the fund has been approved and is just waiting to be disbursed," he said over the phone.

Another TV star, Primus Yustisio, who is running with Golkar member Imas Aryumningsih, garnered 32.94 percent of votes in Subang. The pair enjoys support from the National Mandate Party (PAN), but trails behind incumbents Eep Hidayat and Ojang Suhandi of the PDI-P, who have 34.27 percent.

Data from the West Java KPUD shows that there were seven pairs of candidates in Garut and Majalengka, including three independents.

In Subang and in Ciamis there are six and five pairs respectively with two independent pairs each.

There are three pairs in Cirebon and only two in Banjar.

West Java KPUD chairman Ferry Kurnia Rizkiansyah said the Ciamis and Garut elections were originally scheduled to take place in 2009.

"The schedule was brought forward to maintain security and stability in the regencies, because there will be general elections next year," he said.

In Cirebon, incumbents Dedi Supardi and Ason Sukasa, deputy speaker of the regency legislative council, are leading the vote tally.

Supported by Golkar, the PAN, the PDI-P, the Democratic Party (PD) and the Star Crescent Party (PBB), Dedi and Ason already had a majority vote of 50.61 percent.

Behind them are Djakaria Mahmud and Pangeran Raja Adipati Arief Natadiningrat, backed by the PKB, the PKS, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Star Reform Party (PBR), with 38.41 percent.

In Majalengka, Sutrisno and Karna Sobahi garnered 30.82 percent, defeating their six competitors. The pair was nominated by the PDI-P and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI).

At distant second are Nazar Hidayat and M. Iqbal who, running on an independent ticket, received 16.23 percent of the vote.

Majalengka's KPUD chairman said the official result would be announced on Nov. 1.