Deputy house speaker criticizes Iriawan's installation

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Deputy House Speaker Taufik Kurniawan expressed criticism over the installation of Commissioner General Mochammad Iriawan as the acting governor of West Java on Monday. He asserted that the installation has the potential to create suspicion.

"It's because one of the candidates in the upcoming West Java gubernatorial election has the police background," he said in a written statement.

He stated that the police background issue of the acting governor first emerged at the end of last year. But later the government's plan was canceled due to disputes and rejection from some quarters, drawing appreciation from all parties.

However, it finally happened. Therefore, the minister of home affairs must fully explain about the decision, he remarked.

"The minister continued with his decision to install the acting governor from the police. This has the potential to create suspicion," he added.

He explained that the minister should have rather appointed an official from his office, similar to the Jakarta election in 2017, when he appointed director general for regional autonomy, Sumarsono.

Taufik stated that the appointment must be reviewed, adding that the ministry of home affairs must not create issue in the current political year.

Iriawan, who is now the main secretary of the National Defense Institute, was installed as the acting governor to take over from Ahmad Heriawan, who had finished his term in office.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo pointed out that he had not violated any law by installing Iriawan.

"It is alright. The important thing is that it did not violate the law. It is impossible for me to mislead the president. I did it according to the rule and the law, because I gave the name I proposed to the president first," he elaborated.

He added that he has no special reason with regard to the appointment of Iriawan with his police background.

West Java, along with 16 other provinces, 39 cities, and 115 districts will conduct elections on June 27 to choose new governors, mayors, and district heads, respectively.