Drug-Using Regents Must be Fired

The home affairs minister was right to take firm action following the arrest of Ogan Ilir Regent Ahmad Wazir Noviadi, who was found to have been using drugs. Following the arrest of Wazir last Monday night, Minister Tjahjo Kumolo signed the order for his dismissal the Wednesday after.

Wazir is a well-known figure. He was the youngest regent to take part in the simultaneous regional chiefs elections held on December 9. Wazir, a member of the Golkar Party and also the choice of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Hanura, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), was only 28 years old. He is rich, reporting assets worth more than Rp20 billion. He owns 10 cars, including a Mercedes-Benz, a Jeep Wrangler, a Range Rover and a Honda CR-V. And today he has a new reputation: the regent with the shortest term of office. He was inaugurated on February 17 and fired on March 16.

March 22, 2016