People's regents

From Media Indonesia

A number of provinces and regencies have already finished their direct elections for regional heads without court disputes, and some others are slated for inauguration later.

The regional direct election has cost a lot of energy and funds in an effort to develop democracy, the first of their kind in 60 years after the nation's independence. Therefore, the elected heads of regencies are now called people's regents.

The question is: What is meant by this term and how should they perform their duties and manage their administrations as people's leaders?

As directly elected regents, they should become leaders who always communicate with local people particularly after they have assumed their official responsibilities. In brief, people's regents are those who empathize with their communities.

M. RIDHA RASYID Makassar, South Sulawesi