Euphoria of provincial status

DENPASAR, Bali: A kind of euphoria has erupted among people who are demanding provincial status for their areas but they have not considered certain criteria required by the law, Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Soerjadi Sudirdja said.

"They are just in euphoria. The law actually not only regulates the enlargement of territory but also their unification and termination," said Soerjadi after inaugurating the 10th International Seminar on Land Readjustment and Urban Development here.

He said that before a new province could be established, certain requirements regarding territory, population and social and economic potentials needed to be met.

He said that to become a province, the idea had to have been approved by the mother province in more ways than just popular support.

"The planned establishment of the Riau province was rejected by the Riau governor and council, although it was supported by the people," he said. (zen/jun)