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)