JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The House of Representatives (DPR), in its plenary session Friday (Oct 25), passed 65 bills on 65 new autonomous regions to be discussed along with the central government.
The 65 proposed new autonomous regions consist of 8 new provinces and 57 new regencies/municipalities. The eight proposed new provinces are Tapanuli, Nias Islands, Sumbawa Island, Kapuas Raya, Bolaang Mongondow Raya, South Papua Selatan, Central Papua Tengah, and Southwest Papua.
Some observes have launched harsh criticisms over the proposal of new autonomous regions, as DPR and central government had previously agreed to apply a moratorium on regional division policy.
It is a drastic additional numbers of regions since the introduction of regional autonomy over a decade ago, with the formation of 205 new autonomous regions. The biggest questions now: Will does the establishment of new autonomous regions truly benefit the people? (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)