Sani inaugurated as Kepri Governor

BATAM: Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi inaugurated on Thursday Muhammad Sani and Soeryo Respationo as Governor and Vice Governor of Riau Islands (Kepri) for the 2010-2015 term.

Sani said at the ceremony in Tanjung Pinang that his administration would recruit former ministers to manage the Free Trade Zone that encompasses Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) Islands.

Sani and Soeryo are supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) and the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PPIB).

The ticket won 231,951 votes (37.30 percent) in regional elections on May 26, defeating Aida Ismeth and Nyat Kadir.

Gamawan called for reconciliation among opposing parties to facilitate leverage to develop the region.

He applauded the current political developments as a good example of democracy. — JP