Indonesian Singer Pasha Ungu Wins In Pilkada

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Pasha Ungu is among three artistes reported to have won based on unofficial results in the Indonesian District Head Election (Pilkada) on Wednesday. Pasha, whose real name is Sigit Purnomo Syamsuddin Said, is the vocalist for the Indonesian group, 'Ungu' which is also popular in Malaysia with its song, 'Andai Ku Tahu' and 'Kekasih Gelap Ku'. He obtained 44.79 per cent of the votes to wrest the post of Vice-Mayor for Kota Palu in Central Celebes. Local media reported that the unofficial result also showed that Pasha and his partner, Hidayat headed three other pairs, namely, Habsa Yanti Panulele-Thamrin (19.87 per cent), Andi Mulhanan-Tahmidy Lasahido (18.92 per cent) and Hadiyanto Rashid-Wiwik Jumatul Rofiah (18.73 per cent). Actor Zumi Zola won the post of Governor of Jambi by obtaining 59.48 per cent of the votes. The handsome, 35-year-old actor will become the governor of Jambi for the 2016-2020 term to replace his father, Zulkifli Ahmad who held the post for two terms, prior to this. However, the fate of three other artises differed. They lost in the Pilkada, which was held simultaneously for the first time in 264 districts nationwide. They were pop singer, Maya Rumantir who failed to grab the post of governor of North Celebes and actor and television commentator Helmy Yahya who lost in the bid to get the post of head of district (Bupati) in Ogan Ilir in South Sumatera. Comedian Tubagus Dedi Suwandi Gumelar or more well-known by the name Miing Bagito also missed out on the vice-head of the district's post in Karawang. The unofficial results were based on quick counts by several accredited counting bodies and the official results would only be announced in February. According to the General Election Commission, 100,730,542 voters were qualified to do so in the 2015 Pilkada to pick 1,658 candidates who offered themselves to contest for the district chief executive's post Indonesia-wide except the national capital of Jakarta and the Aceh Region. The posts were governor and vice-governor, district head and vice-district head and mayor and vice-mayor. --BERNAMA