House to approve new Tangerang city

TANGERANG: The House of Representatives will approve the proposed South Tangerang city along with nine other new regions Wednesday, legislator says.

"We will discuss the proposals for the new regions today and South Tangerang city is one of the 10 to be approved in the preliminary session on Wednesday," legislator Jazuli Juwaini told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The new municipality, with a population of 1.2 million, will be a breakaway from the Tangerang regency in Banten province. It will include Ciputat, Pamulang, Serpong and Pondok Aren districts, all bordering Jakarta.

Banten governor Ratu Atut Chosiah said the provincial administration will appoint an acting mayor in December should the plan be approved.

A total Rp 9.7 billion (US$900,000) for a municipal election has been allocated in the Tangerang regency's budget. Some 4,600 civil servants are also prepared to fill the various positions in the new administration, Tangerang regent Ismet Iskandar said.

With the approval, Banten will have three municipalities and four regencies. -- JP