Ahok to wait for PP before choosing deputy

JAKARTA. The Home Affairs Ministry will issue a government regulation (PP) this week to regulate government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) No. 1/2014, giving Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama the right to choose his deputy without the approval of the City Council.

The ministry’s director general for regional autonomy Djohermansyah said that the Perppu was useless unless a PP was issued. Therefore, he said, the ministry would try to draft and issue the PP by the end of this week.

According to Perppu No. 1/2014 Article 171, a governor, regent or mayor must propose a candidate for the position of their deputy to the Home minister 15 working days after their inauguration at the latest. The deputy is appointed by the president based on the governor, regent or mayor’s proposal, and inaugurated by the minister.

“Pak Ahok must wait for the PP [before implementing the Perppu]. I hope that the PP will be completed and issued some time this week,” Djohermansyah said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Ahok, for his part, said that he would wait until the PP was issued. He had previously said that he would submit the names of candidates on Tuesday.

“I have spoken to Pak Djohermansyah. He said the PP would be issued this week so I will most likely submit the [names of deputy-governor candidates] next Monday,” Ahok told reporters at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Monday.