Riau Islands Governor Reminds Government Of New Autonomous Region Moratorium Doesn't Threaten Sovereignty

Governor Ansar attended the 2022 National Working Meeting of the Association of Indonesian Provincial Governments (APPSI) in South Kuta, Bali. (ANTARA/HO-Public Relations of Riau Islands Provincial Government)

TANJUNGPINANG - Governor of the Riau Islands (Kepri) Ansar Ahmad reminded the central government that the moratorium on the formation of new autonomous regions (DOB) does not pose a threat to regional sovereignty.

"Not because of the DOB moratorium, we sacrifice the sovereignty of the country, especially the Riau Islands," Ansar said, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 11.

Ansar said this while attending the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Association of Indonesian Provincial Governments (APPSI) which was held in Kuta, Bali, Wednesday.

The concern about the threat to the Riau Islands' sovereignty, he continued, was based on the potential for foreign country invasions of natural gas resources (SDA) in Natuna Regency. Therefore, he reminded the central government to review the moratorium on regional expansion.

During the National Working Meeting, Ansar also proposed a revision of Law Number 32 of 2004 concerning Regional Autonomy. He hopes that the government and the DPR will form a small team consisting of experts to review the law.

"I think the Regional Autonomy Law Number 32 of 2014 needs to be revised again. We need to review it because many of the governor's authorities feel that they have been castrated," he said.

He admits that it is not easy to translate the Regional Autonomy Law in relation to other laws. He gave an example, sometimes ministerial decisions (kepmen) that refer to the law also collide with various regional heads' authorities.

"Therefore, I think it needs to be revised," he said.

In addition, Ansar alluded to the contemporary policy trends issued by the central government. He reminded the importance of strengthening policies with strong references and foundations.

He said that the authority of regional heads is sometimes simply withdrawn by the central government without any thorough discussions, references, or similar studies. For example, he said, the authority in the mining sector which was previously withdrawn by the central government and is now partially returned to the regional government.

"Well, this is a country. The state must be built with something more definite and clear," he said.