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Makassar. An inauguration ceremony for officials in Palopo, South Sulawesi, had to be canceled on Wednesday after an officer upset about his new posting threatened to attack colleagues and guests with a bamboo pole.

Excitement over the event quickly dissipated when Andi Nur Pallulu, former head of the Palopo administration’s national unity and public protection division, started overturning chairs and tables, screaming that anybody who dared move him to his new post “would have to deal with him personally.”

He was recently named head of the city’s Women’s Empowerment and Family Planning Agency.

Officials quickly called off the ceremony, in which Palopo Mayor Tenriajeng was scheduled to make an appearance.

Participants and guests scampered away during Andi’s outburst.

Hermawan Irfan Abbas, a spokesman for the Palopo administration, said on Thursday that officials and guests were seated and waiting for the mayor to arrive when Andi burst into the room, brandishing a bamboo pole.

The spokesman said Andi later brought out a sickle. People started running toward the exits shortly after.

Hermawan said the city secretary, H.M. Jaya, had a one-on-one talk with Andi to calm him down.

After his blowup, Andi went to Jaya’s office to talk about his new assignment.

“[Andi] explained that he did not feel that the new post was right for him,” Hermawan said.

“He felt that he was not qualified for the new post, because he knows nothing about it.

“He had initially been in the transportation division before being moved to national unity and public protection, and now he was being transferred to the Women’s Empowerment and Family Planning Agency.”

Andi had insisted “there must be others more competent to lead the family planning division,” the spokesman said.

Andi also reportedly said he was angry that officials in Palopo who had “committed wrongdoing” were allowed to keep their posts, when they should have been demoted or transferred.

Following Wednesday’s incident, Tenriajeng held a closed-door meeting with Jaya and top city officials to “resolve the issue,” Hermawan said.

There has been no announcement on Andi’s future, or when the ceremony will be rescheduled.

“We are still waiting to hear when the inauguration ceremony will take place,” Hermawan said.