Tangerang villages to be upgraded

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang

A recent call from Tangerang Council chairman Dadang Kartasasmita to divide Tangerang regency into two regencies and one municipality has prompted the regency administration to upgrade the status of villages, particularly those bordering Jakarta, into subdistricts.

Regent Ismet Iskandar said the upgrading of villages bordering Jakarta into four districts of Serpong, Ciputat, Pamulang and Pondok Aren -- which has been proposed as a separate municipality, Cipasera -- would start next year.

"We don't want the four districts to separate from the current regency and become an independent municipality. The only option is to upgrade the status of those villages into subdistricts," he said recently.

Another concern regarding the upgrading of the status of villages in the four districts is that they have served to accommodate housing complexes for people working in Jakarta.

Residents of Ciputat, Pamulang, Serpong and Pondok Aren districts previously demanded the establishment of an independent municipality, as they were disappointed with regental policies that, they said, did not accommodate their infrastructure needs.

The administration has drafted a bylaw stipulating the upgrading status. The bylaw is being endorsed by the regency council.

Ismet pointed out that upgrading of the status would have a consequence as there would no more be a direct election for village heads, as subdistrict chiefs, who are civil servants, would be appointed directly by the regent.

The regent had promised to build roads connecting several districts, including Ciputat, Serpong, Curug, Legok, Tigaraksa and Balaraja.