Banten province draft bill stuns authorities

Banten province draft bill stuns authorities

BANDUNG (JP): West Java officials say they are shocked that a
proposal for a draft bill on establishing Banten as a province
has circulated among House members without first being submitted
to the provincial administration.

West Java deputy governor for administrative affairs Moch.
Husein Jahjasaputra said on Tuesday that his office had not
received an official proposal for the establishment of Banten
province.

"I am very surprised. We've never received the proposal, but
copies of the draft bill have been circulated among members of
the House of Representatives in Jakarta," he said.

Banten is a regency, covering Tangerang, Pandeglang, Lebak,
Serang and Cilegon.

He said establishing a new province needed a feasibility
study, plus a recommendation from the legislative council of the
province in which the area was currently included, which would be
submitted to the Office of the State Minister of Regional
Autonomy.

"Establishing a new province is not against the law, but
everything must follow procedures. Politically, the request is
feasible as members of the Banten legislature, except those from
Tangerang, have agreed to the request," he said.

Husein acknowledged that many Banten community figures visited
City Hall to discuss the proposal, "but they just asked Governor
R. Nuriana for his advice and consideration".

Legislators from Tangerang, Pandeglang, Lebak, Serang and
Cilegon visited the West Java provincial legislative council in
Bandung on Monday to demand the administration be responsive to
their demand for the establishment of Banten province.

However, some Tangerang residents grouped in the Evaluation
Committee for the Tangerang Community (KEMAT) have said they are
withdrawing their support for the proposal, arguing they
preferred to become part of Jakarta province.

Husein said the West Java administration's decision on the
proposal would depend on a feasibility study to be made by the
provincial development planning board.

"We expect the decision will be made by the end of March."
(25/sur)