{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1031405,
        "msgid": "publicity-fund-for-council-rules-questioned-1447893297",
        "date": "1996-09-21 00:00:00",
        "title": "Publicity fund for council rules questioned",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Publicity fund for council rules questioned JAKARTA (JP): The use of over Rp 4 billion (US$1.7 million) in funds for familiarizing the public with city regulations has come into question, giving the impression that many Jakartans do not know about the regulations. Councilor Romulus Sihombing of Commission E, which deals with development affairs, said yesterday both the legal bureau and the city's public relations office are among the offices most responsible for informing the public.",
        "content": "<p>Publicity fund for council rules questioned<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): The use of over Rp 4 billion (US$1.7 million) in<br>\nfunds for familiarizing the public with city regulations has come<br>\ninto question, giving the impression that many Jakartans do not<br>\nknow about the regulations.<\/p>\n<p>Councilor Romulus Sihombing of Commission E, which deals with<br>\ndevelopment affairs, said yesterday both the legal bureau and the<br>\ncity's public relations office are among the offices most<br>\nresponsible for informing the public.<\/p>\n<p>The funds allocated this fiscal year for the information<br>\nsector total Rp 4.131 billion, an increase over last year's Rp<br>\n3.610 billion.<\/p>\n<p>Included under this sector is Rp 200 million for publication<br>\nand information on spatial plans and Rp 150 million for maps.<br>\nAnother Rp 300 million is allotted for information programs on<br>\ncity development control, Rp 300 million for information programs<br>\non population matters and Rp 200 million for information programs<br>\non health. Another Rp 825 million is allotted for a \"public<br>\ninformation project\".<\/p>\n<p>Under the legal sector in the city budget, funds for<br>\n\"intensification of bill distribution\" totals Rp 160 million.<\/p>\n<p>Unclear<\/p>\n<p>Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga urged the municipality to \"have<br>\nthe courage to evaluate the effectiveness of city regulations,\"<br>\nbecause he said many remained unclear to the public.<\/p>\n<p>He said this \"troubling condition\" of regulations was raised<br>\nin a recent meeting with Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, who<br>\ninstructed officials to intensify the dissemination of<br>\ninformation to the public.<\/p>\n<p>Ritonga said many regulations remain on the desks of city<br>\noffices. Lack of information of the regulations, which clearly<br>\noutline the rights and obligations of citizens on various<br>\nmatters, he said, \"hamper public participation in the city's<br>\ndevelopment\".<\/p>\n<p>Property owners, for instance, have claimed they do not know<br>\nthe rules on fire prevention and management, which clearly lists<br>\nfire safety standards.<\/p>\n<p>A foreign resident told The Jakarta Post earlier that neither<br>\nthe city's population agency or the immigration office, which are<br>\namong offices where foreigners must register, informed her that<br>\nforeigners are subject to the city rule on foreigners' tax.<\/p>\n<p>Surjadi's favorite example of lack of information on rules is<br>\nthe one on requesting municipality permission to cut more than 50<br>\ncentimeters of tree trunks.<\/p>\n<p>\"Before I was governor, I never thought I had to ask<br>\npermission to cut down my own tree,\" he says. (anr)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/publicity-fund-for-council-rules-questioned-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}