Newly officiated South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin said Monday that free education and health programs he promised during the recent election campaign would be implemented soon.

Government funded health services will be available January while free education will commence in June when schools resume their academic year.

"My five-year term is not the reason the programs haven't started immediately, because I could lose the office in just one year," said Alex.

"That's why I am trying to implement them as soon as possible. Why would we wait if we can do it now?"

Alex said he was surprised to learn there was one region, out of 15 regencies and municipalities in the province, refusing to adopt the provision of free education and health services.

"If there is a regional head refusing to begin the programs, I will lead the residents in charging the leader," he said.

"Whether or not the regent head refuses the services depends entirely on the action residents take."

Alex said commencing free education and health services in South Sumatrea was not impossible, because the funding was being divided under a cost-sharing mechanism which splits the responsibility 70-30 between provincial and regional administrations respectively.

"The public already have the right to these free services. By implementing the programs, we can reduce the public burden so that citizens can spend the money on other necessities," he said.

A political observer from Sriwijaya University, Alfitri, said it was not wise for a regional leader to deprive people of free services promised to them when the programs were mandated by law.

"These leaders must directly face the public and regional legislative councils," he said.

"The public should hold such leaders accountable for failing to fulfill their basic rights."

Alex spoke at the sidelines of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the South Sumatra provincial administration and the Sampoerna Foundation to establish a free senior high school.

The school, which will meet global standards, will combine international teaching methods with those from the pesanter, or Islamic boarding school, and is expected to teach knowledge and skills as well as life lessons.

The MoU was signed by Alex and Sampoerna Foundation Chief Operating Officer Elan Merdy.

It is expected that the school will become a model for national schools requiring further improvement.

The school will cater for bright students from underprivileged families in all regions in South Sumatra and a limited number of those from outside the province.

The first batch will have 150 students, with 25 students in each class.

The provincial administration will fund the school building and site, sleep 450 students in a dormitory and provide other main facilities.

The Foundation is allocating Rp 10 billion (US$881,000) to cover operational costs for three years as well as teaching staff.

"This program creates opportunities to reform the teaching, grading and testing systems for both students and teachers," said Elan.

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