Banten to have governor soon

Banten to have governor soon

TANGERANG (JP): Acting Banten governor Hakamuddin Djamal said
on Thursday that he was trying to complete his task in less than
six months set by the central government, so as to allow a
gubernatorial election to be held ahead of schedule.

He said that establishing a new provincial legislative council
was his top priority, because the council would be responsible
for electing a governor and provincial secretary.

In order to achieve this objective, he said that his office
had formed a special board whose members represented the five
regencies in the new province.

He said he had also instructed local regents and mayors to
draw up an inventory of the West Java assets that would be
transferred to Banten province.

Banten, rich in natural resources and tourist attractions, had
been a regency of West Java province. It was declared a province
only last month following the approval of all factions in the
House of Representatives.

Hakamuddin believed that with its resources, Banten could net
annual revenues of at least Rp 100 billion, especially from the
fishing, plantation and tourism sectors.

"The problem is how local officials can attract foreign
investors to invest their capital in the province," he added.

When ask about his chances of being elected the first
governor, he said he would not run for the governorship and
neither was he willing to be nominated for the post. (41/lup)