APSN | After Ahok, Singkawang mayor also resigns from Red-and-White Coalition

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After Ahok, Singkawang mayor also resigns from Red-and-White Coalition

Jakarta Post - September 11, 2014

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Yogya workers say ending direct elections huge step back for democracy – Tempo.co. September 9, 2014

Jakarta – The mayor of Singkawang in West Kalimantan, Awang Ishak, said on Thursday that he had tendered his resignation from the People's Mandate Party (PAN) following the party's decision to call an end to direct regional elections.

"The party's decision to support Regional Legislative Councils choosing regional heads has made me resign," Awang said in West Kalimantan on Thursday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

"If there were any defects in the direct elections system, I believe they would improve in time." Awang said he felt that what he was fighting for was no longer in line with the party's views.

The Red-and-White Coalition led by Prabowo Subianto's Gerindra Party – which holds a majority in the House of Representatives – is fighting to reinstate the defunct regional system in which regional leaders are elected by Council members.

In response to Gerindra's stance, Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Wednesday tendered his official resignation from the party, saying that the proposed system would hurt Indonesia's democracy. (fzm/nfo)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/11/after-ahok-singkawang-mayor-also-resigns-red-and-white-coalition.html.