Four pairs to compete in Tangerang regental election

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang | Jakarta | Sun, October 21 2012, 7:53 PM

The Tangerang Regency General Election Commission (KPUD) has determined four pairs of candidates who will run in the upcoming Tangerang regental election in a plenary session on Saturday.

The four political party-backed pairs of candidates are Ahmad Suabdri-Aufar Hutapea, Ahmed Zaki Iskandar-Hermansyah, Aden Abdul Kholiq-Suryana, and Achmad Suwandi-Muchlis.

Commission head Jamaludin said that Saiful Hidayat-Een Nuraeni, who had registered as independent pair of candidates failed to meet the minimum support required by the 2011 general election law.

He said that an independent pair candidate should obtain signatures of at least three percent of the Tangerang population.

“That means that the independent pair should collect as many as 88,000 copies of ID cards and signatures from their supporters ,but they only submitted some 60,000 copies,” he said.

The pairs will campaign between Nov. 20 and Dec. 4, while the election will be held on Dec. 9.

Ahmed Zaki Iskandar - Hermansyah are backed by a coalition of six political parties; the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the Star Reform Party (PBR) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).

While Achmad Subadri-Aufar Hutapea are nominated by the ruling Democratic Party, Acmad Suwandi-Muhlis obtained support from the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP) and the Nation Mandate Party (PAN).

Aden Abdul Kholiq-Suryana is backed by the Indonesian United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Nahdlatul Ulema Party (PNUI), the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Ahmed Zaki Iskandar, who is the eldest son of outgoing Tangerang regent Ismet Iskandar and also a Golkar lawmaker, said that he and his running mate Hermansyah, the Tangerang regency secretary, had aimed to earn up to 70 percent of the total votes. (swd)