Bali wants special status

DENPASAR, Bali: Community leaders have urged the province's newly elected regional representatives to the People's Consultative Assembly to seek special status for the province be granted.

Nyoman Gelebet, a lecturer of the technical school of Udayana University, urged the representatives during a meeting here on Saturday to push for the special status during the Assembly's deliberations in Jakarta.

A similar recommendation was also forwarded by Denpasar National University rector I Gusti Ngurah Gorda, Antara reported.

The provinces of Aceh and Yogyakarta are the only two which have been granted special status.

One of the main reasons for the proposal is financial.

Bali faces a dilemma in its provincial budget. It earns little from natural resources, which could be claimed in a profit sharing arrangement with the central government. Most of Bali's income is derived from its huge tourist industry.

Saturday's meeting was held to allow the five representatives -- Ida Bagus Adnyana Manuaba, Dewa Gede Palguna, I Gde Sudibya, I Gusti Wayan Meregeg and I Gusti Bagus Masri -- to take stock of various political and economic proposals for the province. (06)