The West Sumatra gubernatorial election is set to kick off with five candidates officially registered at the province’s General Elections Commission (KPUD) on Friday.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician and House of Representatives member Irwan Prayitno
officially entered the race again this year.
Irwan and his running mate, Padangpariaman Regent Muslim Kasim, were nominated by the PKS, People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and Star Reform Party (PBR) coalition.
Irfan was the last of the five candidates to meet the registration deadline at the West Sumatra KPUD at 12 midnight on Thursday.
Initially, Irwan had not intended to contest the gubernatorial election after being beaten by Gamawan Fauzi and Marlis Rahman in the 2005 poll. Irwan, then paired with Ikasuma Hamid from the PBR, came in second.
He was asked by the PKS to run for the post again after none of the party’s members were
nominated by other parties in the coalition.
“I was only asked to run two days ago. I am concentrating on my work in Jakarta for the sake of the party, especially since I’m considering an offer to become an ambassador,” Irwan said following his registration at the KPUD.
He said he was happy to be paired with Muslim, who was twice elected regent of Padangpariaman, the area that bore the brunt of the massive earthquake in September last year.
Irwan said he could win the election with just 30 percent of the votes.
“Muslim and I are committed to prioritizing programs in West Sumatra — a disaster-prone province — especially with a view to restoring infrastructure and facilities damaged in the Sept. 30-earthquake because this has adverse impacts on improving human resource development,” he said.
Other candidates include Agam Regent Marlis Rahman and running mate Aristo Munandar on the Golkar Party ticket, PT Semen Padang director Indang Irzal and former provincial administration assistant Asrul Syukur on
the Democratic Party and Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) ticket.
Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar, who is one-and-a-half years into his second term, is also running in the election with running mate former provincial secretary Yohannes Dahlan on the National Mandate Party (PAN) and United Development Party (PPP) ticket.
Also in the race is Medan academic and lawyer Edi Warman and running mate Husni Hadi, a member of the Indonesian Military Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS). They are running on a 24-party coalition ticket.
West Sumatra KPUD head Marzul Very said his office would verify the candidates’ eligibilities and conduct medical tests before deciding who could contest the election.
“We will announce the eligible candidates on May 2 and organize the elections for June 30,” Marzul said after the registration deadline.
