VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin at a teleconference with leaders of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in Jakarta on Wednesday (Aug 5, 2020). ANTARA/HO/Asdep KIP Setwapres

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin opined that the creation of new autonomous regions (DOB) is not the primary solution to the numerous problems faced by regions.

To this end, the government has yet to allow regional expansion as requested by some regions and focus on comprehensive implementation of the government policy, Amin remarked during a virtual meeting with the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

"Regional expansion is not the only solution to the various problems in regions. Optimum implementation of the government’s policy that directly touches the public will become the solution for regional administrations," he noted in a statement here on Thursday.

Amin remarked that regional administrations should play their role, as representatives of the central government, to implement programs conceived in detail by the central government.

"For instance, the village fund program, stunting prevention program, insurance, and other social aid programs. Those are the alternative solutions," he pointed out.

At the meeting, Deputy DPD Chief Nono Sampono urged the vice president, as chairman of the Regional Autonomy Advisory Council (DPOD), to revoke the moratorium on regional expansion in a restrictive manner.

Sampono believes regional expansion should be permitted specifically for Papua and West Papua provinces and Kalimantan, particularly in the bordering area.

"Kalimantan, especially its bordering areas, has the same strategic position with Papua. Hence, we suggested limited expansion for Kalimantan, in addition to Papua and West Papua," he stated.

The government is still imposing a moratorium on regional expansion. It highlighted the need for comprehensive study and analysis in preparing for a regional expansion since huge sums of money, reaching some Rp300 billion, per district/municipality would be required for establishing a new autonomous region.

The Home Affairs Ministry noted that almost 80 percent of the budget for 514 districts/municipalities in Indonesia are sourced from the central government's budget. (ANTARA)