Riau Islands faces power vacuum

Riau Islands faces power vacuum

BATAM, Riau: Riau governor Rusli Zainal questioned on Saturday
the government's failure to appoint an acting governor to the
Riau Islands, which has become a separate province from mainland
Riau.

"As of today, we have not been informed about the acting
governor. It's the prerogative of the President," Rusli said
after a meeting with Riau Islands regents.

The government has named Batam the provisional capital of Riau
Islands province, which comprises the Batam, Tanjungpinang,
Tanjungbalai Karimun, Natuna and Lingga islands. Batam Industrial
Development Authority head Ismeth Abdullah has been touted as the
acting governor of the new province.

As a separate province, the Riau Islands will no longer
receive a share of the oil and gas revenue from mainland Riau and
vice versa. Previously, Riau Islands regency had received up to
Rp 90 billion (US$9.6 million) a year from the revenue sharing
scheme.

"That's the consequence of the separation under Law No.
22/1999 on regional administration," Rusli said. -- Antara