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resident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has dismissed Karo Regent Kena Ukur Karo Jambi Surbakti, after the Karo regency council submitted a proposal for his ouster four months ago due to bad performance.

North Sumatra Governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho handed over Presidential Decision No. 57, dated July 1, 2014 to Kena Ukur at his office in Medan on Friday.

'€œWe appreciate the services he has given while leading Karo regency,'€ Gatot said after handing the dismissal letter to Kena Ukur at his office.

Kena Ukur served as Karo regent from 2011, when he was elected through a direct election. Kena Ukur and his running mate Terkelin Brahmana were nominated by the National Functionary Concern Party (PKPB) and several minor parties. After two years as regent, Kena Ukur joined the Democratic Party and became Karo chapter party leader.

Gatot reminded every party to maintain a favorable situation in Karo regency following the dismissal. He urged all parties who endorsed the impeachment of the regent to not react excessively over the issuance of the presidential decision.

'€œAll parties should maintain security in Karo regency. Immediately consolidate and coordinate for the effectiveness of the regency administration,'€ said Gatot.

Gatot said that based on Law No. 32/2004 and home ministerial letter on technical guidelines of the implementation of the presidential decision, Vice Regent Terkelin would take over the duties of the regent.

Gatot added that Terkelin'€™s appointment as regent would be carried out through the mechanism of a plenary session at the Karo regency council.

'€œI urge every party to support the leadership of Terkelin, as an official who is undertaking his tasks and authority as Karo regent,'€ said Gatot.

In response to his dismissal, Kena Ukur said he was at a loss as to why he was removed as Karo regent.

'€œWhat have I done? The decision letter also did not specify the reasons for the dismissal,'€ said Kena Ukur, who added that he plans to ask the President about his dismissal soon.

Earlier, the Karo regency council officially dismissed Kena Ukur as Karo regent through a plenary session in March this year.

As many as 31 of the 35 regency councilors agreed with the dismissal, while only one opposed it and three others were absent.

Karo regency councilor Siti Aminah Perangin-Angin said there were five reasons why the regency council had dismissed Kena Ukur, including that he lacked ethics, traded positions within the regency administration and often made policies without the council'€™s approval.

Siti said the dismissal was also proposed because the regent had failed to lead the Karo community, especially in assisting evacuees from the Mount Sinabung eruption.

She revealed that the suggestion to dismiss Kena Ukur was first raised in 2013. She added that the consensus committee made the initial proposal to dismiss the regent, and followed the move up by proposing it to the Supreme Court on Jan. 13, 2014. The court then agreed to dismiss the regent on Feb. 13, 2014. Referring to the Supreme Court'€™s decision, the Karo regency council dismissed Kena Ukur on March 13, 2014.