Only one minister, namely Minister for Development of Disadvantaged Regions Helmy Faisal Zaini, attended the meeting. He arrived with his party aboard a helicopter from Supadio airport in Pontianak.
The four ministers who failed to show up are Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Minister for Empowerment of Women and Protection of Children Linda Agum Gumelar, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.
The coordination meeting was held on the premise of the Entikong Industrial and Manpower Training Center.
West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis who was also expected to come also failed to attend the meeting. He was represented by his deputy Christiandy Sanjaya.
Entikong sub-district directly shares borders with the Eastern Malaysian State of Sarawak.
The local people expressed disappointment over the absence of the four ministers as they have since long felt development gaps with other regions in Indonesia.
"This indicates that the government is not serious about paying attention to development in the border areas," Rangga, an Entikong resident, said.
Five subdistricts in West Kalimantan which share borders with Sarawak have been chosen as a focus of development in 2012 with a respective budget allocation of about Rp200 billion to Rp900 billion.
"There are special funds ordered by the National Border Area Management Agency (NBAMA). The funds are earmarked only for the five subdistricts," Head of West Kalimantan NBAMA, Manto Saidi said recently.
The five subdistricts are Paloh of Sambas district, Jagoi Babang of Bengkayang district, Entikong of Sanggau district, Ketungau Hulu of Sintang and Badau of Kapuas Hulu.
(A014/F001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
