Bulungan planned to be the capital of North Borneo to stimulate the economy in border areas
Parliament on Thursday (25/10)
North Borneo was officially endorsed as the new province of Indonesia.
House of Representatives declared the formation of new provinces is needed to build resilience in the border region.
North Borneo or Kaltara itself a fraction of the province of East Kalimantan and plans, Bulungan will serve as the capital of the province to 34.
The province was formed to revive the economy in the region, which have been considered lagging.
It is located directly adjacent to Malaysia, making the most of its citizens dependent on Malaysia.
During this time in the border areas Indonesia and Malaysia, people do buy more products from Malaysia and even in some border areas, currency Ringgit into Euro rather than legitimate means of payment
This is what the politicians in Parliament feared that makes them ultimately supported the establishment of a new province.
According to the Chairman of Commission II, Agun Gunanjar, the formation of new local governments in North Borneo is crucial to improve public services and border security.
“How to protect the border, if the government controls too much, how can prosper if they all affairs can not be served,” said Agun.
According Agun welfare, justice can become an obsession that can be realized by the division.
“Once the government is formed Kaltara, then there will be a new administrative center in the border will be entirely controlled, restrained, whether in education, health, public service, so there will be a pattern of economic policy, development policy, which they all have independent authority . ”
Although officially formed but North Borneo elections will be conducted in two years, and for a while during the next nine months the Ministry of Home Affairs will appoint an official governor.
Less Sucessful
“Increase public services more vibrant, not create new areas that actually adds to the burden and new problems”
Siti Zuhro
As stated the Parliament, the establishment of North Borneo was purely to revive the economy of border residents.
But Siti Zuhro a problem Autonomy LIPI researcher said the establishment of the North Borneo did not directly address the problems at the border.
“Because the expansion of the border problem can be solved instantly, not like that,” said Siti Zuhro.
“Not that easy, because in fact there is disappointment, dissatisfaction with the area itself or the quality of public services and the welfare of the people who did not arrive.”
“So the issue is, improve public services more vibrant, not create new areas that actually adds to the burden and new problems.”
“For the border, split or not split no effect, no effect to them,” said Siti Zuhro.
Besides Siti Zuhro also questioned the consistency of the previous government and the House of Representatives issued a moratorium on the expansion area, whereas the moratorium was put in place because of the expansion areas considered less successful.
In a note Siti Zuhro, 83% of the 205 autonomous regions, only to burden the state budget, which in turn increases the amount of lagging regions.
North Kalimantan is a province to 34 or seven new provinces were created in the aftermath of reforms and autonomy is rolled out in Indonesia.
Anak Aseli Indonesia 