Two districts in Tangerang seek split

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Residents of Teluk Naga and Kosambi districts have agreed to separate from Tangerang regency and become part of Tangerang municipality as they claimed the regency has neglected them for years.

In an attempt to seek out ways to joining with Tangerang municipality, the two districts recently formed a team tasked with formulating a plan for such a merger.

"We're really disappointed with the regency administration because they have made no serious efforts to develop the districts. That's why we want to split from the regency," Imam Hambali, who chairs the team, told The Jakarta Post last Saturday.

He explained that the districts actually had numerous economic possibilities -- including agriculture, tourism and warehousing services -- that could be developed to improve the residents' standard of living.

"Should those sectors be seriously developed, they will not only improve the lives of local residents, but could also make a huge contribution to the regency's own-source revenue," he explained.

He said that it had been eight years since the regency administration promised to develop tourism at Tanjung Pasir beach in Teluk Naga district and at Dadap beach in Kosambi district. But to date, no action had been taken.

According to Hambali, the main roads connecting the two districts, such as the main Kampung Melayu-Teluk Naga and Kampung Melayu-Lemo roads had been in severe disrepair for years, while the construction of public transportation terminals in the two districts had never been completed.

He claimed that the education sector was similarly neglected. The regency had given no attention at all to this sector so that many schools in the two districts were also in severe disrepair. Several school buildings had almost collapsed but the administration continued to turn a blind eye.

Commenting on the plans of the two district, Tangerang Regent Agus Djunara said that people were allowed to voice their aspiration but it would not be easy to accommodate their wishes.

However, the regent, who is coming near the end of his term, denied that his administration had ignored the two districts, saying that in order to improve the lives of residents, his administration would begin the construction of 45 kilometers of new tollway that would connect the two districts with the airport, Tangerang and Serpong, plus a seaport in Tanjung Pasir next year.

"We have asked an investor to conduct a feasibility study on the new tollway and the sea port, and the study will start in December," he told the Post, adding that if the feasibility study was completed within one month, the construction would begin early next year.

On school buildings, he said that other districts also faced similar problems due to lack of money.