BIDDING FAREWELL:

Hasan Basri Durin (right) shakes hands with Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja after handing over the authority of the National Land Agency (BPN).

After the handover ceremony, Surjadi said here on Wednesday he intends to accelerate the transfer of authority in land affairs from the central agency to regional agencies in line with the planned implementation of regional autonomy.

"Land affairs will entirely become the authority of the regional agencies as soon as we finalize our internal restructuring in the agency," Surjadi said.

He said the central agency would then function only as a policy maker and merely set guidelines for regional agencies.

Hasan Basri, former West Sumatra Governor, was appointed head of the agency by then president B.J. Habibie. He now retires.

In Wednesday's ceremony, Surjadi said regional agencies would have full rights to modify or develop policies and guidelines from the central agency, depending on their local circumstances.

"This is all due to the demands from the people for wider autonomy for regional administrations," Surjadi said.