Fires Village Head Suparno For Extortion, Gibran 'Jokowi' Is Judged As An Image, If ...

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) with Gibran Rakabuming Raka (Photo: Instagram @basukibtp)

JAKARTA - The dismissal of the Village head by the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming, has drawn pros and cons. Gibran received protests from residents of Gajahan Village, Pasar Kliwon District about the dismissal of their village head, Suparno.

A political observer from Al Azhar Indonesia University, Ujang Komarudin, agrees that anyone involved in extortion, especially a regional head, must be dealt with and punished according to the laws and regulations.

However, Ujang questioned whether in dismissing the village head, Gibran had gone through the existing procedures. Do not let the dismissal of the task be just an image.

"First, whether the dismissal is by the procedure or not? There is a procedure for the Village head is a Civil Servant, if in municipal administration he is a Civil Servant. The boss is indeed the Sub-district Head and then the Mayor. The only problem is, was the dismissal by the procedure or not? That may be a problem in itself", said Ujang to VOI, Tuesday, May 4.

If there is a protest from the community who defends the Village head, said Ujang, it is normal. Because, extortion like that often occurs anywhere in Indonesia, including agencies.

"So why did the Village head only get him? That's a problem", he said.

Second, there is usually a warning rule. If the Village head is guilty, there should be a warning from the superior.

"What are the rules like? Usually, there is a first warning, two warnings, and so on. If you immediately fire it, it becomes a question mark from the Village head's supporters", said Ujang.

"Third, we certainly want local government wherever it is clean. So we can clean it up. If there is blasphemy, it will be a risk from a mayor", he continued.

Nevertheless, Ujang assessed that the dismissal could be the right step in the midst of the many phenomena of extortion in government agencies. But on the other hand, it is also natural for Gibran to spread a firm image to raise his level in government.

"It's everywhere (extortion, red) but there are Regional heads who want to move up the Governor to the next level, they have to improve their good performance. One side is done because there are extortion, one side is because of imaging. Politics is normal", said Ujang Komarudin.

Previously, the Mayor of Solo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, spoke up after receiving protests from residents of Gajahan Village, Pasar Kliwon District about the dismissal of their Village head, Suparno.

For Gibran, illegal levies (extortion) in the form of alms and zakat fitrah are still mistakes and must be accounted for.

"The mistake is clear. The letter is clear, what kind of letter he wrote, what kind of editor. Yes, still wrong, he is responsible", said Gibran at Solo City Hall, Central Java, Monday, May 3.

Gibran also invited residents who wanted to collect signatures of support as a form of protest so that their Village head would not be fired.

"Yes, please, I'm not in the way. The mistake was obvious", Gibran said.