35% of revenues from mining, forestry and plantation has to be given to regional government: Jambi Governor

Jambi Governor H. Zulkifli Nurdin demanded on Friday that 35 percent of revenues from the mining, forestry and plantation development in the province be given to the regional government, the Suara Pembaruan dialy reported on Saturday.

He said that the 35 percent portion is reasonable because out this amount another 35 percent has to be given to the regency level.

Zulkifli made the remarks in response to the government's plan to issue Government Regulation No.25/2000 on the authority of the central government and provinces as autonomous regions.

He said that the 10 percent share to be set aside by the government for the regional government is too small and inadequate to help finance local economic activities. Out of the 10 percent portion to be received by the regional government, 48 percent will be earmarked for taxes and overhead costs, he said.

He insisted that a bigger portion of revenues is badly needed to help boost economic development in the Jambi province.

"We hope that officials of the central government pay much attention not only on the central government's interest, but also the regional government's," Zulkifli said.

Special for the forest management, he asked the central government to give full authority to the local government to manage forest resources. "The regional government knows much better about the condition of forest resources in the area so that if it were given the authority to manage them, it will be able to exploit them sustainably," he said.

Zulkifli's opinion gets support from H. Nasrun Arbain, speaker of the Jambi Legislative Council. "The central government has to wisely respond to demands from the regional governments and not to worry that its incomes will substantially drop. We have to remember we are in a system in which the central government still governs," Nasrun said. (*)