Rusli Zainal installed as new Riau governor

Rusli Zainal installed as new Riau governor

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru

Rusli Zainal, a former contractor, was installed as the new
governor of the resource-rich Riau province on Friday by Minister
of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno. Wan Abubakar was also installed as
deputy governor during a ceremony at the provincial legislative
council here.

In his address, Hari appealed for the new officials to support
the establishment of a new province, the Riau islands. The law on
the Riau islands has been passed, however Riau's provincial
administration and council have failed to come out in its
support.

The Riau islands province would include Natuna island, which
is among Singapore's gas suppliers, and Batam, an industrial and
tourism area.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by councillors from
neighboring Malaysia and Singapore/

Minister Hari said the Riau islands, particularly Batam, were
not only a source of growth for Riau but were also important for
the national economy.

"The 31st province must therefore be properly prepared through
consultations within society and among local leaders on the Riau
mainland and in the Riau islands," the minister said.

The new governor of Riau, Rusli, is a former regent of
Indragiri Hilir, where he was born, and is the first Riau
governor not to come from the military or the bureaucracy. Many
were surprised by the election of an "ordinary" man.

Rusli was a member of Golkar and lobbied the United
Development Party (PPP) to support his candidacy after Golkar
initially balked at backing him. Rusli secured 34 out of 55 votes
at the Riau provincial legislative assembly to become governor.