Calls for new province in northern Kalimantan

Nurni Sulaiman , The Jakarta Post , Tarakan | Mon, 02/25/2008 12:02 PM | The Archipelago

The idea of an autonomous North Kalimantan province is justifiable given the poor state of public services and unequal regional development in East Kalimantan, Tarakan Mayor Jusuf SK says.

"Development in southern regions like Balikpapan, Samarinda and Tenggarong has been more successful than in northern regions," Jusuf told The Jakarta Post recently.

"There has been a stark contrast between infrastructure acceleration in the south and in the north," he said.

"Residents in border areas in northern regions of East Kalimantan receive poor public services.

"A separation is imperative so as to achieve more balanced development," Jusuf said.

It could take days and large amounts of money for residents living in the north to arrange for licenses and other administrative matters, he said, adding that some must take a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Tarakan or Berau to the capital Samarinda.

Worse still, residents of Sebatik Island must take a two to three-hour boat ride to reach Tarakan before continuing their flight to Samarinda, he said.

Residents living near the border with eastern Malaysia prefer to trade their natural products, like fish, coffee, tea and rice, in the neighboring country, and in return buy Malaysian products, such as milk, rice, coffee, tea and clothing, Jusuf said.

Lax surveillance along border areas has led to unfavorable instances in which Malaysia has often claimed a number of East Kalimantan's natural products as theirs own, he said.

Based on observations, the northern regions of East Kalimantan, especially those bordering East Malaysia, seemed have been "colonized" by foreign powers, Jusuf said.

Malaysia had dominated the region with its products and its currency circulating both sides of the border, he said, adding that the mentality of residents living along the border had also been affected in that their sense of national allegiance was faded and divided.

Most residents in the area perceive they have been disadvantaged by the government, Jusuf said.

Tarakan and Nunukan have also become gateways for human trafficking.

East Kalimantan Police recorded more than 10 cases of human trafficking last year. They also recorded some 378 cases of illegal logging, a number of which involved Malaysian businessmen.

To restore public confidence, East Kalimantan legislative speaker Herlan Agusalim called for an additional administration, or formation of an autonomous North Kalimantan province.

"Public services will be readily available and people will no longer need to go to Samarinda to attend to administrative affairs," Herlan said.

"Border surveillance can also be heightened," she said.

The area was potentially rich in natural resources which had not been exploited, such as gold, coal, nickel, in addition to forests, agricultural and fish products, Herlan said.

North Kalimantan also has diverse marine biology, including blue coral and rare turtles found in waters around Derawan-Berau, Sangalaki and Kakaban islands, he said.

"Hopefully, we will not see a repeat of the Sipadan-Ligitan territorial dispute which Malaysia won because it paid more attention to developing the area.

"It would be a great loss if our riches are taken from us again," Herlan said.

In anticipation of the split, East Kalimantan provincial Administration has proposed for the establishment of the North Kalimantan province.

"The draft law is still being deliberated by the Home Ministry and the House of Representatives Commission II. We have not yet received a reply, but unquestionably, the separation would bring benefits to the people," Herlan said.

Provincial information, news and documentation spokesman Elto said his office had included four regencies and a mayoralty to be incorporated in the new province -- Nunukan, Bulungan, Malinau and Tanah Tidung regencies, and Tarakan city. They are home to more than 458,000 people, and span a total of 71,176 square kilometers.

According to the December 2007 data, the population of East Kalimantan stood at 3,211,444 people.

It consists of 13 regencies and mayoralties spanning an area of 208,657 square km, comprising 198,441 sq.km of land and 10,216 sq.km. of sea territories that border on the Sulawesi Sea and Makassar Strait.

The formation of the new province is also aimed at improving social welfare of local people, some of whom have migrated to East Malaysia in search of work.

Many Indonesian locals migrating to Sarawak and Kinabalu in East Malaysia were believed to have become Malaysian citizens and joined the Askar Wathoniyah, a Malaysian militia deployed to safeguard the two countries' borders.

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |