`Autonomy law review a must'

Dicky Christanto and Erwida Maulia ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 06/20/2009 12:10 PM  |  Headlines

The three presidential candidates have committed to revising the regional autonomy law, already altered twice in the last decade, to outline a clear relationship between the central government and regions and improve public services nationwide.

Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that despite progress having been achieved, many problems and shortcomings have to be addressed, including a revision of the 2008 regional administration law.

"We admit there are many shortcomings but regional autonomy will become stronger in the next five years," he said at a campaign function before about 1,000 supporters in Jakarta earlier this week.

While the central government will maintain its key role, governors and regents, through their administrations and local wisdom, should attract investors to boost their regional economies, he said.

Max Sopacua, a member of the SBY-Boediono campaign team, said the planned revision would also propose imparting the role of supervision on the central government, so it could ensure all regional heads played by the rules. "Besides, we are considering reviewing the direct local elections, including gubernatorial elections, because we have found they are inefficient. Governors, regents and majors could be appointed by the president," he said.

Megawati Soekarnoputri and Prabowo Subianto said the law had to be revised because it contained too many "unclear ideas", which led to multiple interpretations and subsequent friction between regional heads and Jakarta.

"This lack of clarity leads to misinterpretation. Eventually, when the government has to implement policies later on, there is confusion," Ganjar Pranowo from the Megawati-Prabowo campaign team said on behalf of the candidates.

The government and the parliament need to write a detailed job description for regional heads, he said, to avoid clashes between governors and regents or majors.

Kalla and Wiranto also promised to revise the law, claiming they would extend regional autonomy to include villages. The final goal should be to improve people's social welfare, rather than create positions for local elites in the executive and legislative bodies, he said.

Fadhil Hasan, a member of JK and Wiranto campaign team, said the duo would firstly resolve overlapping authorities and review regulations which have caused conflict and protest from investors.

"Kalla wants to outline the function and authority of central and local governments with clear indicators so the status of autonomy will benefit local people," he told The Jakarta Post.

"The pair will also impose a temporary moratorium on new claims of autonomy from regions and review the gubernatorial race."

Adianto P. Simamora contributed to the story from Jakarta

regional autonomy

Mega S.-Prabowo S.

Track record
- grant special autonomy in Aceh and Papua
- split Papua into three provinces
- retracted a part of decentralized authority
- formed two new provinces, 101 new regions
- strengthened governors' position and authority
- declared state of emergency in Aceh
- half-heartedly implemented the regional autonomy
- many regions remain underdeveloped
Campaign statements
- to extend autonomy to villages
- to encourage local wisdom, creativity
- to empower rural potentials
- to protect civilian rights

SBY-Boediono

Track record
- declared moratorium on new region formation
- to review direct gubernatorial election
- formed West Sulawesi province, 58 new regions
- maked no evaluation of underdeveloped regions
- disadvantaged regions still remain
- Revised 2001 special autonomy law for Aceh
- Facilitate gubernatorial election in Aceh
- to rate 33 provinces, 496 regencies/municipalities
- granted West Papua special autonomy
- makes no evaluation of underdeveloped regions
Campaign statements
- to encourage village development programs
- to phase out the Java - non-Java dichotomy
- to pursue equality in economic development
- to accelerate development of disadvantaged regions
- to accelerate infrastructure development in Sulawesi, Papua

Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto

Track record
- helped draft the Aceh special autonomy law
- facilitated gubernatorial election in Aceh
Campaign statements
- to spend bigger part of state budget on economic growth
- to harmonize ties between the central government and regions
- to accelerate and improve public service
- to phase out the ambiguous regional autonomy
- the sharing of power between governors and regents/mayors
- to give full autonomy to regions in certain fields

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