House approves new province of Gorontalo
House approves new province of Gorontalo
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday
approved a bill establishing the new province of Gorontalo,
formerly a part of North Sulawesi.
Gorontalo has become the country's 32nd province after the
House approved the establishment of Bangka-Belitung province, in
southern Sumatra, last month, and Banten province, in Western
Java, three months ago.
Unofficially, however, the country only has 30 provinces as
two provinces in the eastern-most parts of Irian Jaya,
established by Habibie's administration last year, were not
popular and, consequently, rejected by locals.
In the plenary session led by Deputy Speaker Soetardjo
Soerjoguritno, all 10 factions agreed to forming the new
province, which has a population of only 800,000 people.
The new province, located on the south coast of Sulawesi
Island's northern tip, has an area of 12,864 square kilometers,
covering the regencies of Gorontalo and Boalemo, and the
mayoralty of Gorontalo. The majority of the province's population
is Muslim, while North Sulawesi is predominantly Christian.
Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi
Soedirdja said, based on the government's assessment, Gorontalo
deserved the new status.
"Gorontalo has economic potential. It has natural resources,
plantations and forestry which can support the province's
economy. However, it still needs hard work to realize an
improvement of the peoples' welfare," Surjadi said in the
session.
He advised that the establishment of Gorontalo as a new
province was primarily aimed at improving the peoples' welfare.
"If the province fails to increase the welfare of its people,
it deserves to be reunited with the mother province," he
remarked.
He said an acting governor would be appointed soon after
President Abdurrahman Wahid approves the new province.
The acting governor would be given between three and six
months to set up the provincial legislative council, with members
based on the ratio calculated from last year's general election.
Golkar won the last year's general election in the province,
followed by the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
Independent
Meanwhile, the PPP faction has asserted that Gorontalo
declared independence on Jan. 23, 1942 from the former Dutch
colony.
"Gorontalo joined the Unitary State of Indonesia in 1945,
instead of the East Indonesia State which was formed by the Dutch
government. So, Gorontalo deserves to become a province," the
faction's spokesman Zein Badjeber said.
Jasin Baruadi, spokesman for the Golkar Party faction welcomed
the new province, hoping that it would strengthen democracy,
national unity and improve the people's welfare.
Hundreds of Gorontalo people who were present at the session
applauded when Soetardjo rapped his gavel to following the
decision. Some members of the group played traditional drums to
celebrate the approval.
"It's a historic and unforgettable moment," Roem Kono,
chairman of National Committee for the Establishment of Gorontalo
Province, told reporters after the session.
In Gorontalo, a ceremony greeting the approval of provincial
status was held during heavy rainfall. The ceremony, held at the
Balai Kartini Hall, was attended by North Sulawesi Governor J.A.
Sondakh, and Gorontalo mayor Edy Pututihe.
Yahya Yunus, a Gorontalo teacher, could not hide his
excitement, saying people must be optimistic that the new
province would improve their welfare. "We've been waiting for the
moment. We are very happy."
The House is currently deliberating a bill for the
establishment of the Riau Islands as a province. The mother
province of Riau opposes the move. (jun/27)