Kendari

The provincial capital of Kendari is now headed by a governor. He is Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, La Ode Kaimoeddin, who took over the leadership of Kendari on Friday last week. This occurred after the term of service of Masyhur Masie Abunawas ended on Thursday last week, as Kaimoeddin no longer recognized Masyhur as the mayor, although he had won re-election. According to Kaimoeddin, the decision was taken after he received a radiogram from the Minister of Home Affairs that was signed by the Director General of Regional Autonomy, Sudarsono, and appointed the governor as acting Mayor of Kendari.
The governor's decision automatically cancelled the results of the election for Kendari's mayor that had just been held on September 17. The election was won by the duo of Masyhur Masie Abunawas and Andi Muzakir Mustafa who had been proposed by the Golkar faction. Kaimoeddin gave two alternatives to the regional assembly: repeat the election with completely new candidates, or re-propose the old candidates—other than Masyhur. "Masyhur cannot be proposed again," he said.
However, the leadership takeover in the district has not brought an end to the muddle in Kendari. The Kendari DPRD is still demanding that Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno install Masyhur as Kendari Mayor. Information obtained by TEMPO from the Office of the Kendari DPRD, indicates that DPRD Speaker, Haeruddin Pondiu, and his deputy, Achmad A. Hasan, are both in Jakarta to pressure Sabarno. "If this fails, we have already prepared an alternative," said Kendari Deputy Speaker, Siti Arfah Panudariama, without elaborating on what the alternative is.
What is certain is that Kaimoeddin's differences have now shifted. Whereas initially he was only confronting Masyhur, he must now do likewise with the whole of the Kendari assembly.