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