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Gorontalo halts social aid distribution to maintain peace ahead of election
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Election officers check ballot materials ahead of the 2017 Gorontalo gubernatorial election, at the Gorontalo General Elections Commission (KPU) office on Jan. 26. (Antara/Adiwinata Solihin)
F
rom Friday until election day on Feb. 15, the Gorontalo administration is halting the distribution of social aid to maintain peace ahead of the gubernatorial election.
Acting Gorontalo governor Zudan Arif Fakrulloh said on Friday that he had made the decision considering the sensitivity of the issue because incumbent governor Rusli Habibie was running in the election.
“This is only temporary. On Feb. 16, the distribution will resume,” he said.
He said the move would avoid any speculation that social aid distribution aimed to secure votes.
In May last year, the Social Affairs Ministry pledged Rp 180 billion (US$13.5 million) in social aid for the province.
Zudan also ordered all working units to halt programs involving meetings with residents until after the election. He suggested civil servants work on internal affairs during the period.
Gorontalo Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) head Siti Haslina said her office appreciated Zudan’s measures. “It is the right move; we cannot let social aid distribution give advantages or disadvantages to certain parties,” she said.
Three pairs are running in the Gorontalo race: Hanah Hasanah-Toni Yunus; incumbents Rusli Habibie-Idris Rahim; and Zainuddin Hasan-Adhan Dambea. (evi)
