Four districts want own regency

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Four districts in the Kutai regency are demanding the formation of their own regency, saying that the existing administration had paid scant attention to their needs, Antara reported on Monday.

Syaifuddin -- who heads a team assigned to campaign for a new regency covering Muara Jawa, Sanga-Sanga, Anggana and Samboja -- said the people were ready because the area, to be called Pantai regency, was endowed with oil and gas reserves.

Pantai also had the potential to attract tourists, he said.

The team met with Governor Suwarna AF on Monday to make their case, complaining that under the present Kutai administration, the four districts have not seen much development of basic infrastructure and social services.

The governor cautioned the team that to set up a regency, the four districts had to fulfill many requirements and follow the lengthy procedures through the provincial legislative council and the national legislature. (04)