Jakarta-wapresri.go.id. Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah paid a courtesy call to Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the Vice President Office in Jakarta, on Thursday (April, 28).
Zaini came to report development programs run at his region to the Vice President.
To boost economic growth and reduce unemployment rate, Zaini said, during March to April 2016 Aceh administration has made open procurement for infrastructure projects to ensure transparency.
“This is a breakthrough as we used to entrust each office in our administration to make a working contract by themselves,” he said.
He further explained that infrastructure development in Aceh is focused on completing the construction of six inter-regional roads and 27 bridges, among others Pusong Pidie bridge, Sungai Kala Wak bridge in East Aceh, Sungai Kolon bridge in East Aceh, Weih Delung Bener Meriah bridge, and Rangka Baja Krueng Kreh Pirak Timu bridge in North Aceh.
Zaini also told the Vice President that prior to the coming regional election that would be held on February 15, 2017, Aceh is relatively safe.
In fighting against drug abuse, he continued, his administration has launched a move named “Bersinar” (Bersihkan Sindikat Narkoba/ fight against drug syndicates). In 2015, he added, Aceh administration successfully destroyed cannabis farms covering an area of 232 hectares and up to April 2016 has destroyed 407 hectares.
“We have done this as it is deemed more effective in reducing drug traffickers. To date, for your information, 65 percent of our prison occupants are drug offenders,” he said.
The Vice President in response appreciated Aceh administration in running its development programs to better people’s welfare.
“The most important thing is that people suffice for their needs,” he said.
When people’s needs are met, the Vice President added, it is easier to create conducive atmosphere for the coming regional election. “What causes people become radical is their being unemployed,” he affirmed.
Accompanying Aceh Governor in the meeting were Aceh Wali Nanggroe (a traditional leader) Malik Mahmud, Aceh local house of representatives (DPRD) speaker T. Muharudin, regional military command (Kodam) chief Maj. Gen. TNI Rudi Polandi, Aceh regional police chief Police Insp. Gen. Husein Hamidi, and Aceh Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati) head Raja Navrizal.
