A Mutual Admiration Society

(11/4/2012)

Governor Made Mangku Pastika is taking pains to clarify that his professional relationship with vice-governor AA Ngurah Puspayoga remains positive and is not having an adverse effect on the synergy of the province's executive branch.

Quoted by Seputar.com, Pastika said told the Bali House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali) on Tuesday, October 30, 2012: “Our relationship is good, there’s no need to be worried; the function of government continues as normal, in accordance with the agreed plans of Bali’s legislative and executive branch.”

Pastika’s clarification delivered at the House was interrupted by the chairman of Commission I of DPRD-Bali, Made Arjaya, who mentioned recent press reports depicting the relationship between Pastika and his deputy as not harmonious and public suggestions that Puspayoga has not attended his office for the past year.

Joining the call for the governor to make a public clarification via the DPRD-Bali was legislator Nyoman Sugawa Korry.

In response, governor Pastika said: ‘We (Puspayoga and the Governor) are committed to carrying out our duties until the end of our term of office on August 28, 2013. Because of this, I want to clarify at this time that there is no need to worry about public service and the execution of our duties.”

Separately, deputy governor Puspayoga said that he wishes to create a good relationship with governor Pastika until the end of their term of office and beyond. “We have differences of opinions, but there is no split with the governor. I have great affection of the governor, I love that man,” said Puspayoga.

The deputy governor views any differences he has with Pastika is all for the good and does not signify a split exists. In response to allegations he is seldom in his office, Puspayoga said his trips outside of Denpasar are part of his official job and always undertaken with the permission of the governor.

The relationship between the governor and deputy overnor may undergo a further test if, as many expect, both men will be vying for the post of Bali's governor in early 2013.