Jakarta - The House of Representatives officially established 11 new regencies and one city during a plenary session here on Tuesday.
The plenary session named South Labuhanbatu and North Labuhanbatu in North Sumatra; Central Bengkulu in Bengkulu; North Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara; South Bolaang Mongondow and East Bolaang Mongondow in North Sulawesi; Sigi in Central Sulawesi; South Buru and Southwest Maluku in Maluku; North Toraja in South Sulawesi; and Anambas Island in Riau Islands Province as new regencies.
The House also named Sungai Penuh as a new city in Jambi province.
The announcements were welcomed by dozens of people dressed in traditional costumes (photo above).
"Congratulations to the people of these regions," said Eka Santosa, deputy chairman of the House`s Commission II overseeing legal affairs.
"As stipulated in the Law on Regional Administration, the development of new administrative regions is aimed at improving public services and opening new economic centers," he added.
Home Minister Mardiyanto said the establishment of the new regions had followed procedures required by the regulation.
However, he said, the regional autonomy council must be more careful in evaluating requests for region development in future.
"The development of new regions has implications both for the state and regional budgets," he said.
Indonesia now has 33 provinces and 483 regencies and cities. The House is set to deliberate on the establishment of 15 more administrative regions. (alf)
Source: http://old.thejakartapost.com (June 26, 2008)