More regions could mean less public service<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The creation of new regencies and municipalities has increased
\nconcerns over deteriorating public services in regions across the
\ncountry, as more local governments claim a share of the limited
\nstate budget, experts said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia grew by 23 regencies and two municipalities on
\nMonday, when the House of Representatives endorsed 10 bills on
\nthe formation of the new regencies in 10 provinces throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
But whether the creation of new regencies and mayoralties will
\nmean better public services remains questionable, said University
\nof Indonesia political analyst Chusnul Mar'iyah on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Public money shouldn't be spent financing new local
\nadministrations, but on improving public service,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The central government has set aside Rp 78 trillion (about
\nUS$8.76 billion) this year under the General Allocation Fund to
\nhelp finance all of the regencies and mayoralties in 30
\nprovinces, according to a government statement released on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
The money, however, did not include the 23 new regencies and
\ntwo municipalities. Now, since the same amount of money must be
\nshared by more local administrations, some might receive less
\nuntil the next fiscal year at the earliest.<\/p>\n
And although this year's general allocation fund marks an 11
\npercent rise from last year's Rp 69 trillion, Indonesia's tight
\nstate budget provides little leeway to increase spending on new
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
\"Is a region's own revenue enough to support itself, since
\notherwise it will only become a burden?\" asked Chusnul.<\/p>\n
\"Our worry is that this will affect public services,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Under the autonomy law, regions must be able to support
\nthemselves as Jakarta grants them greater authority to manage
\ntheir own affairs. But many among the new regencies and
\nmayoralties come from provinces that boast little revenue.<\/p>\n
\"Bangka-Belitung and Gorontolo aren't exactly rich,\" said
\nChusnul, referring to six of the 23 new regencies and mayoralties
\nthat are located in two new provinces.<\/p>\n
Residents in the newly created province of Banten have
\ncomplained about a drop in income since they broke away from the
\nprovince of West Java, Tabrani Rab, a member of the government-
\nfunded Autonomy Council Board, said.<\/p>\n
\"They earn less than they did before the split,\" Tabrani said,
\nciting a survey he did before and after Banten became a province
\nin 2000.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Siti
\nNurbaya, said new regencies would receive financing from the
\nlocal governments of the regencies from which they broke off
\nfrom.<\/p>\n
\"For now, new regencies are still entitled to receive the
\nfunds which were meant for them under the old budget,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Ideally, however, a local government that plans to split off
\nshould have set aside funds to help the new government during the
\ntransition period, Siti said.<\/p>\n
She said the amount of money required to establish a new
\nadministration varied in line with the size, population and needs
\nof the particular region it served.<\/p>\n
Both Chusnul and Tabrani, however, questioned the motives
\nbehind the desire to set up new regencies.<\/p>\n
Under Law 22\/1999 on regional autonomy, regencies have more
\npower than provinces in managing their affairs.<\/p>\n
During the last four sittings of the House last year, the
\nlegislative body endorsed the creation of 36 new regencies, one
\nmunicipality and the Riau Islands province.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, the rhetoric at the House is about public service,
\nbut is it really?\" asked Chusnul.<\/p>\n
Legislators said the aspiration of the people to govern
\nthemselves under the autonomy law was a key consideration in
\ndeliberating the bills on the new regions.<\/p>\n
Chusnul said many regions felt they were underrepresented at
\ntheir local legislative council or in the House. Being a separate
\nregency boosts local politicians' chances of securing a seat in
\nthe legislative body, she said.<\/p>\n
Seats in the legislature are partially distributed in
\naccordance to the number of voters in the regions.<\/p>\n
\"I am afraid this is a reform euphoria where everyone wants to
\nbecome a regent,\" said Tabrani.<\/p>\n
He said no region should be established based on political
\nmotives, especially if these motives only served the local
\npolitical elite.<\/p>\n
\"The autonomy law clearly states that the only reason for the
\ngovernment to establish a new region is to improve public service
\nin that area,\" Tabrani said.<\/p>",
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