Soeharto tells officials to use their initiative

Soeharto tells officials to use their initiative

JAKARTA (JP): Regional development programs would not run
smoothly and would cause unequal distribution if administrators
relied heavily on government advice in the decision making
processes, President Soeharto said yesterday.

The President told 120 top echelon officials taking part in an
upgrading course on regional administration that in the era of
globalization, self-reliance and initiative would play a major
role in bringing about successful development programs.

"Autonomy will only come into existence smoothly and quickly
if officials are given some of the administrative and development
power," Soeharto said, adding that everybody must throw their
weight behind the concept.

He said the government has vowed to activate public services
and cut procedures by allowing regencies to represent the
government in some local cases.

Vice President Try Sutrisno and Minister for Administrative
Reforms TB Silalahi attended the opening of the one-day course at
the State Palace.

"The Minister for Administrative Reforms has informed me that
most complaints raised by people dealt with institutions,
authority, delegation, service, finance, equipment and human
resources," the President was quoted by Antara as saying.

Participants of the course were officials serving in Jakarta,
provinces and regencies, including vice governors.

The government launched last year a greater regional autonomy
trial run which gave 26 selected regencies a greater say in the
running of their affairs.

Under the program, most matters previously handled by the
central government were handed over to the authorities in the
participating regencies.

There are 241 regencies and 56 municipalities in Indonesia.
Administratively these fall under the 27 provinces, the first
level of regional government.

Soeharto had earlier said the most important facet of the
regional autonomy program was efficiency and harmony between the
administration and socio-economic and cultural conditions.

The areas of responsibility handed over to the 26 regencies
included health, fisheries, education and culture, public works,
animal husbandry, home industries, public housing, land transport
and tourism. The transfer of power to the regencies also included
responsibility for personnel, equipment and budget planning.

The selected regencies, located on all major Indonesian
islands and vital provinces, included Aileu in East Timor and
Sorong in Irian Jaya. (amd)