Regencies ready for pilot project on autonomy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Officials from various regency administrations
\nsaid yesterday that they will be ready to accept more tasks and
\nresponsibilities from the central government under a greater
\nregional autonomy project to be launched on April 25.<\/p>\n
\"We have issued bylaws to create 24 new agencies which will
\ntake over some of the tasks previously handled by the central
\nadministration,\" A.M Sulaiman, regent of Kutai in East
\nKalimantan, told The Jakarta Post by telephone.<\/p>\n
Sulaiman said he had no problem finding the personnel to run
\nthe newly created agencies.<\/p>\n
Sofyan Effendi, assistant to the chief regency in Batanghari
\nin the province of Jambi, said however that he expected that the
\ncentral administration would assist in staffing and funding the
\nnew agencies created in his territory.<\/p>\n
Karimuddin Hasybullah, Regent of North Aceh in Aceh, sees the
\nprogram as a challenge that he will have to meet.<\/p>\n
Describing the autonomy as a trust placed in him by the
\ncentral government, Karimuddin said: \"I will carry out the
\nprogram with all the people in North Aceh.\"<\/p>\n
Kutai, Batanghari and North Aceh are three of the 26 regencies
\nin Indonesia that have been selected by the government for the
\npilot project of the greater autonomy.<\/p>\n
The officials in the three regencies said they have made
\nlengthy preparations for the project and do not anticipate major
\nproblems when the central government delegates more power to
\nthem.<\/p>\n
The project will be formally launched by President Soeharto at
\na ceremony in Jakarta on April 25, according to an Antara report
\nyesterday. The try out period is two years and, if successful,
\nwill be applied to all the regencies in the country.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said the
\nlaunching date has been postponed from April 17. He did not give
\nany reason for the delay.<\/p>\n
State Minister for Administrative Reform T.B. Silalahi early
\nthis week said the project would be implemented despite
\nobjections coming from the Ministry of Information and the
\nMinistry of Religious Affairs.<\/p>\n
Under the program, all branch offices representing 24
\ngovernment ministries will be abolished. Their task will be taken
\nover by agencies responsible to the regency chiefs.<\/p>\n
Some of the transfers have already been effected, according to
\nAntara.<\/p>\n
The Yogyakarta administration had, as of yesterday, already
\ntransferred the tasks of 10 ministries to the Sleman regency
\nadministration. Similarly, Banyumas has also accepted greater
\ntasks and responsibilities from the Central Java provincial
\nadministration. (29)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regencies-ready-for-pilot-project-on-autonomy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}