Banten's reorganization underway<\/p>\n
By Ridwan M. Sijabat<\/p>\n
SERANG, Banten (JP): With the deadline to establish the
\ninstitutional infrastructure of Banten province just two months
\naway, efforts are in full swing in the new province to put a
\nworking provincial administration and legislature in place.<\/p>\n
These efforts, headed by M. Hakamuddin Djamal, who was
\nappointed acting governor of the province, and Diding Kurniadi,
\nwho is the acting provincial secretary, are even more crucial
\nbecause Banten, one of the first of a number of newly established
\nprovinces, could become a test case for others.<\/p>\n
Djamal, who was sworn in on Nov. 18, quickly set up a 10-
\nmember team to assist him in designing the provincial
\nbureaucracy.<\/p>\n
He has coordinated with the General Elections Committee to set
\nup a five-member committee to prepare for provincial council
\nelections.<\/p>\n
"In accordance with Presidential Decree No. 110, issued on
\nJuly 26, 2000, my main task is to form a permanent and effective
\nprovincial government and a provincial legislature as well," he
\ntold The Jakarta Post at his office here.<\/p>\n
In drawing up the organization of the provincial
\nadministration, Djamal, along with the 10-member team, has
\ndecided on three assistants to the governor, eight bureaus and
\nsub-bureaus and a number of sectoral sections.<\/p>\n
The 10-member team, led by Amur Muchasim, the former
\nsecretary-general at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional
\nAutonomy, has put in place strict regulations regarding
\nrecruitment. These regulations require certain qualifications for
\nall positions in the hierarchy in an effort to make the
\nprovincial bureaucracy effective and efficient.<\/p>\n
The next governor will have three assistants who have
\nexpertise and experience in finance and accounting, public
\nadministration, policy and planning, development, law, politics,
\nhuman rights and the environment.<\/p>\n
The presidential decree stipulates that officials assisting
\nthe governor must have a strong commitment to upholding democracy
\nand justice, a wide knowledge of political parties and general
\nelections, and strong leadership skills. They must not be members
\nor functionaries of any political party and they must come from
\nthe bureaucracy.<\/p>\n
In line with the decree, the number of seats in the provincial
\ncouncil will be 75, with 10 percent of the seats, or eight, being
\nfilled by the Indonesian Military and the National Police.<\/p>\n
Another 16 members of the West Java legislative council who
\nare natives of Banten will be transferred to the Banten
\nprovincial council.<\/p>\n
Provincial chapters of political parties will contest the
\nremaining 51 council seats.<\/p>\n
The political situation in the province has become heated in
\nrecent months as parties have begun campaigning for these seats.<\/p>\n
Asserting that he was not attempting to interfere in the
\ninternal affairs of political parties, Djamal said party members
\nshould be chosen for the provincial legislative council through
\ndemocratic mechanisms in order to avoid unrest, as well as to
\neducate locals on the values of democracy.<\/p>\n
"Political parties should learn from the chaotic situation in
\nthe Pandeglang regency council following the council's recent
\ndecision to suspend its chairman Encep Daden, despite the fact
\nthe he won the local elections," he said, adding that the
\nsituation was a sign that the people and the political elite were
\nunprepared for democracy.<\/p>\n
Djamal said West Java province was providing some Rp 30
\nbillion to help Banten establish its provincial government.<\/p>\n
Asked about possible gubernatorial candidates, Djamal said
\nmany names had been raised.<\/p>\n
"Several names, including Ekky Syachruddin and Aly Yahya, both
\nGolkar Party legislators, Suherlan, who is a local businessman,
\nTubagus Rais, a former Jakarta deputy governor, and Herman
\nHaeruman, an official with the National Planning Board, have
\nfrequently been raised. But the province still has many other
\nfigures who are considered suitable to lead the new province."<\/p>\n
Ekky is expected to withdraw his name as a potential candidate
\nbecause he has been named a candidate to become's Indonesia's
\nambassador to Canada.<\/p>\n
Djamal said he had no interest in the province's top post
\nbecause his family was not originally from Banten.<\/p>\n
He said the public should not pay too much attention to the
\ngubernatorial candidates, adding that of the greatest importance
\nwas the provincial administration's ability to create a
\ndemocratic climate and improve its service to the people.<\/p>\n
"Regional autonomy has as its main goal improving the quality
\nof democracy and the government's service to the public, as well
\nas to better the people's welfare," he said.<\/p>",
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