Bangka, Belitung set to become province

Bangka, Belitung set to become province

JAKARTA (JP): Only a week after passing the bill establishing
Banten province, the House of Representatives (DPR) is expected
to endorse a bill on the conversion of the South Sumatran islands
of Bangka and Belitung into a new province in the immediate
future.

Matori Abdul Djalil, deputy speaker of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), said that despite strong opposition
from the South Sumatran provincial authorities, local people in
both islands were very optimistic that the House would pass the
bill into law during its plenary session next week.

"Local people in both islands are not able to sleep at night
while awaiting the discussions on the long-awaited establishment
of the new province.

"Numerous local people want to come to Jakarta to watch the
plenary session, which is scheduled for Oct. 24," Matori said
upon his arrival here from Bangka on Monday.

Matori, also chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB),
said all of the House factions had pledged their support for the
bill. The debate on the bill is expected to be completed this
week.

Both the South Sumatran provincial administration and the
legislative council have recently opposed the bill, saying that
the region was not yet ready, either financially or economically,
to become a new province.

Besides the bill on the Bangka-Belitung province, the House is
also deliberating a bill on the development of the Riau islands
into a new province. This bill has also been opposed by Riau's
governor and legislative council.

Matori said that it was feasible for Bangka, Belitung and the
surrounding islets to be developed into a new province not only
because the region was isolated from South Sumatra province, but
also because the area had an abundance of resources in the
mining, fishing and agricultural sectors which could be developed
in the future.

"However, the people there should not dream of rapid change in
the new province, because they will have to work hard to achieve
progress in the future," he said. (rms)