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n an effort to spur economic growth and ensure equal development in the province, East Kalimantan Governor Awang Faroek has announced plans to create six new autonomous regencies.

They include West Kutai Ulu (formerly Mahakam Ulu and currently administered as part of West Kutai), South Kutai (the costal area of Kutai), Central Mahakam and three new regencies which will be created from Paser, Berau and East Kutai regencies. East Kalimantan will develop into 20 regencies in addition to the six new regencies.

Tana Tidung is currently the youngest regency in East Kalimantan, officially gaining autonomy from its parent regency, Bulungan, in mid 2007.

Awang has often publicized the policy to regents and local officials, as well as local residents, during working visits to planned autonomous areas.

"Regional autonomy is aimed ensuring equal development, especially in remote areas, and at improving the living standard of people in remote areas. Besides that, the younger generation will be provided with a better education, and won't have to study outside their areas," Awang said recently.

Awang conveyed the plan during a working trip to West Kutai at the end of June, when he suggested regional autonomy to Kutai Barat Regent Ismail Thomas.

"I told Pak Thomas that if any regency wishes to gain autonomy, then it should separate, as long as it can be independent. Regional autonomy can improve public services," Awang said.

A number of districts have expressed their aspirations to separate from their parent districts, such as Long Hubung, Long Bagun, Long Pahangai and Long Apari.

According to Awang, regional autonomy is requisite in the autonomy era, because areas which are hard to reach, isolated and economically stagnant, could develop rapidly as they could be managed by their respective administrations.

He cited Kutai, which was previously a vast regency, but was not making progress. People were deprived of good public services, such as those living in the Hulu Mahakam area (now West Kutai), who had to travel more than 300 kilometers to reach the regency capital of Tenggarong.

This trip took more than two days because of the previously poor infrastructure. "Many areas in Kutai then failed to progress due to their inaccessibility. However, after being separated into East Kutai and West Kutai regencies and then Kutai gained autonomy as Kutai Kartanegara, look at the rapid progress the three regencies have made.

"The local economy has grown rapidly, development continues at a fast pace, and facilities and infrastructure for education, healthcare and other things are distributed more equally. Public services are more accessible and most of all the people have benefited from equal development," Awang said.

Awang cited five primary benefits of regional autonomy, including improved public services, accelerated equal development, better management of natural resources, better political education and the improvement of human resources.

However, Awang cautioned that regional autonomy should remain realistic. If an autonomous area fails to develop, then the central government should revoke its status.