Two outer islands in Riau need special attention: Minister

Rizal Harahap ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Pekanbaru   |  Wed, 03/26/2008 12:38 PM  |  The Archipelago

Jemur and Rupat, two islands in Riau province bordering Malaysia, are too isolated to maintain their integration with Indonesia, says a minister.

"The Riau provincial government must pay special attention to the two islands to support the central government's efforts in state defense and to maintain the country's borders," Home Minister Mardiyanto said here after visiting the two islands recently.

The minister said despite their isolation, public administration on the two islands was running as normal, however, their geographical position has hampered development because of limited transportation facilities.

Mardiyanto asked the provincial government to provide regular and better transportation facilities to and from the islands and build public infrastructure, mainly road networks and bridges, to allow islanders to socialize with mainlanders and trade products with them.

He warned residents would go to Malaysia to seek jobs if the government did not pay attention to the two islands' development needs.

"They are part of this nation," he said.

Asked to comment on the prolonged dispute between Riau and North Sumatra over Jemur Island, the minister vowed to set up a team to assess the dispute and help mediate the conflict.

"The prolonged dispute has caused a serious problem in administrative matters on the island and it must be resolved soon, possibly before the North Sumatra gubernatorial election in April," he said.

Riau and North Sumatra both claim Jemur Island, which sits on the border of the two provinces. Riau has been involved in a similar dispute with Jambi over Berhala Island.

The minister also said the draft revision of the 2004 regional administration law would be completed soon but he did not know when independent candidates would be allowed to contend local elections.

"The revision is being conducted to regulate independent candidates in local elections, and also to organize regent and mayoral elections to help maintain political stability ahead of and during the general election in April, 2009," he said.

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