Everyone should enjoy equal opportunities: Jambi governor

Everyone should enjoy equal opportunities: Jambi governor

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Against the backdrop of local autonomy, Jambi Governor Zulkifli
Nurdin warned all sides against questioning the ethnic
backgrounds of potential leaders or their places of origin,
saying that every person living in Jambi had the same right to
lead the province, provided they were qualified.

"As long as a person is living in the province, he or she is a
resident of Jambi, and he or she has an equal right and
opportunity to be appointed to vacant positions in the provincial
administration," he said during a meeting with local informal
leaders in Muaro Bungo, 310 kilometers west of Jambi, the capital
of the province, on Monday.

Nurdin argued that since the implementation of autonomy, there
had been a strong trend in a number of regions to prevent people
who came from other regions or ethnic groups from occupying
strategic and senior positions, with indigenous people being
favored instead.

"In the bureaucracy, ethnic sentiments must be eradicated as
they will only hamper the development program in the regions," he
said.

Regardless of their ethnic background or place of origin, all
people concerned with the province's progress had to be given the
opportunity to occupy strategic positions, and even become the
province's chief executive, said Nurdin.

"Conversely, those who are not qualified and are not concerned
about the province will find no room in the bureaucracy or
administration, even if they come from the province. We need
qualified and dedicated human resources to develop the province,"
he said.

The governor also called on all people to be united regardless
of race and religion to counter the religious and cultural
disintegration that threatened the province.

"We must accept that migrants settling in remote areas of the
province have played an active role in development here.

"This pluralism has contributed to the healthy economic growth
the province enjoyed over the last four decades. We must maintain
this conducive climate so that all ethnic groups and religions
can grow altogether. The more peaceful and stable the situation
in Jambi, the more foreign investors will come to the province,"
he said.