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)