77 villages turn into subdistricts

JAKARTA: The Tangerang Regental Council approved on Friday a draft bylaw on making 77 villages in the regency subdistricts.

The council's plenary session to approve the bylaw was marked by interruptions and walkouts by councillors who disagreed with the decision.

Tangerang Regent Ismeth Iskandar said he was happy with the decision, saying that he would enact the bylaw as soon as possible, Tempointeraktif.com reported.

Late last month, the council failed to endorse the bylaw because of violent demonstrations by the residents of five villages, who were against the idea of making their villages subdistricts.

They said the status change would make their villages less democratic because subdistrict heads would be appointed by the regents and not elected by villagers. --JP