Eight regions want regency status

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)