Eight regions want regency status

PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: Eight regions in Central Kalimantan are seeking to become regencies in their own right, Antara reported on Monday.

The demand for new regencies was one of the recommendations by the recent Central Kalimantan People's Congress (KRK) to the central government.

The eight areas demanding to become regencies are Gunung Mas and Pulang Pisau in Kapuas regency, Murung Raya in North Barito regency, East Barito in South Barito regency, Katingan and Seruyan in East Kotawaringin regency, and Sukamara and Lamandau in West Kotawaringin regency.

The province is currently divided into six regencies.

Fawzi Bachsin, speaker of the Central Kalimantan legislative council, said the creation of new regencies had been a long- standing demand because the province covered a huge territory.

Their creation could also help to cool tension between locals and migrants following bloody conflicts last year, he said without elaborating. (04)