DPD Supports BNPP becomes Ministry

Jakarta, Info Publik - Regional Representatives Council’s (DPD) Committee I Deputy Chairman  Benny Rhamdani stated that discrepancy occured between non-border and border regions. DPD is targeting Bill on Management of Border Regions that is currently being discussed to be included into the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) Priority in 2017, as  stated by Benny in the Committee I DPD Expert Meeting  with a number of experts in the DPD RI Building, Jakarta, Monday (6/13).

According to Benny, it is time for the state to be present as the driver for the management of border regions.

He expected the Bill on the Management of Border Regions that was initiated by DPD to be completed immediately in DPD. "This Bill is formed for the accelerated development of border regions and the necessity of more comprehensive regulation. We also need legal certainty," he explained.

Still from Jakarta, South Sulawesi senator Iqbal Parewangi assessed that one of the urgency of this bill is to increase the status of the National Agency for Border Management (BNPP) into a Ministry to strengthen its functions and to avoid overlapping authority in managing the border.

“Border regions cover 11 provinces, they cover one-third of the number of provinces in Indonesia, the government should have established a special ministry that takes care of this border issues," said Iqbal.

Syarief, a Lampung senator, agreed to increase the status of BNPP from an agency into a special ministry that deals with the border region issues. “The central government’s attention for the the border regions is still low. I agree for BNPP to become ministry," he said.

Meanwhile, Pontianak Tanjungpura University’s Faculty of Economics Professor Eddy Suratman who was present as a speaker also said that it was important that the bill on Management of Border Regions to be proposed by DPD, given the urgency of equitable development in the border regions usually generates a lot of conflicts of interest that need to be resolved.

“The purpose of the bill on Management of Border Regions is to improve the welfare of border regions. By the availability of this law, the welfare, health, education, and regional security, and resources management will be guaranteed," he concluded. (Translator: Erik Limantara)