Supporting the ALA province

With the growing demand for the formation of a new province in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) to be named Aceh Leuser Antara (ALA), I and my whole family, who once lived in Banda Aceh from 1989 to 1995, fully support the steps already taken by 51 legislators toward this end.

The five regencies which will belong to the proposed province, namely Southeast Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Singki, Central Aceh and Bener Meriah, are geographically a long way from the capital of NAD. Moreover, their ethnic origin, language, customs, tradition and culture are also different.

However, in splitting off the ALA, the application of sharia (Islamic law) should be strengthened while respecting other religious groups, and the spirit of upholding the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia should be preserved.

The same spirit has been maintained in West Java with the birth of the Banten province, in Riau with the Riau Archipelago province, in South Sumatra with the Bangka Belitung province and in North Sulawesi with the Gorontalo province.

BENNY MK Jakarta