22 Governor/Vice Governor to Take to Campaign

Jakarta (Antara) - Twenty-two provincial governors and vice governors have applied for leave to participate in political campaigns for the legislative elections on April 9, Home Affairs Ministry spokesman Didik Suprayitno stated. "According to the latest data, today, Thursday, March 13, 17 governors and five vice governors have asked for leave to campaign, to the minister of home affairs," he explained. State officials are allowed to take leave maximally two days a week and they are required to submit their applications for it 12 days before their campaign schedules, he elaborated. Home affairs minister Gamawan Fauzi meanwhile has appealed to heads and deputy heads of regional governments not to take leave on the same days to assure of government operations. "If the heads of regional governments take leave, then their deputies take over their duties and so the position will not be vacant," he pointed out. He also warned the officials against using public facilities for their activities or use by their political parties or groups. The provincial governors that have asked for leave are West Sumatra governor Irwan Prayitno, South Sumatra governor Alex Noerdin, West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan, East Java governor Soekarwo, East Nusa Tenggara governor Frans Lebu Raya, West Kalimantan governor Cornelis, South Kalimantan governor Rudi Arifin, Central Sulawesi governor Longki Djanggola, West Sulawesi Anwar Adnan Saleh, North Sumatra governor Gatot Puji Nugroho, Jambi governor Hasan Basri Agus, Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, Bali governor I Made Mangku Pastika, West Nusa Tenggara governor M Zainul Majdi, Southeast Sulawesi governor Nur Alam, Gorontalo governor Rusli Habibie. The vice governors who would also take leave are South Sumatra vice governor Ishak Mekki, West Sumatra vice governor Muslim Kasin, Bali vice governor I Ketut Sudikerta and Riau Islands vice governor M M Soerya Respationo. (*) Reporting by Fansiska Ninditya