Habibie backs province's birth

Habibie backs province's birth

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Former president B.J. Habibie has
donated Rp 300 million (about US$38,000) to help people in Tomini
Raya, near here, campaign for the formation of a new province
there.

Chairman of the national committee for the establishment of
the Tomini province Nelson Pomalingo did not say when Habibie
handed over the money, but indicated the former president gave it
in his capacity as a Gorontalo man.

Habibie was born in Gorontalo, but raised in Pare Pare, South
Sulawesi.

The planned province will cover the regencies of Gorontalo,
Boalemo and Gorontalo mayoralty. Currently they are part of North
Sulawesi province.

"In near future, the House of Representatives' Commission II
will visit Gorontalo to check on the feasibility of turning this
territory into a new province," Nelson told Antara. (prb)