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.