Tangerang Legislative Council 'in the dark'<\/p>\n
TANGERANG (JP): State electricity company PLN has cut its
\nsupply to the mayoralty's Legislative Council building due to a
\nRp 13 million (US$1,733) unpaid bill for the last eight months.<\/p>\n
Council activities have been severely affected. Most rooms are
\nblacked out and electrically operated office equipment is at a
\nstandstill.<\/p>\n
Employees have been forced to use manual typewriters to
\ncomplete urgent documents.<\/p>\n
The blackout began on Dec. 9, but no resolution to the problem
\nappears imminent.<\/p>\n
"Actually, employees of the council's secretariat already knew
\nPLN's plan to cut its electricity supply due to the unpaid bills.
\nBut we just did nothing as it is the duty of the secretary of the
\ncouncil or the secretariat's head," Efendy, one of the employees,
\nsaid on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said the power cut also affected the civilian defense
\nregional headquarters and the Tangerang office of the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture, also located in the council's building.<\/p>\n
"The blackout also hit the other two offices whose electricity
\nwas also linked to the council's connection," Efendy said.<\/p>\n
Gusti Rustam, a member of the City Council, deplored the loss
\nof power and accused officials of being delinquent in their
\nduties.<\/p>\n
He also suspected there was malfeasance in the disbursement of
\nthe allocation of funds for the maintenance of the council's
\nbuilding, especially for electricity, telephone and tap water
\nbills.<\/p>\n
"This is very embarrassing. Is this what caused the funds to
\nalready run out? How can this be because the 1998\/1999 budget
\nwill only end in April?" he said, urging an urgent settlement on
\nthe matter.<\/p>\n
Agus Sugiono, head of the mayoralty's finance department,
\nconcurred with Gusti's statement. He said the Tangerang mayoralty
\nset aside Rp 25 million annually to cover electricity, telephone
\nand tap water bills of the council.<\/p>\n
"So far there have not been any reports on whether the funds
\nwere sufficient or not," he said.<\/p>\n
"If the fund is insufficient, the council's secretary can make
\na proposal for an additional fund."<\/p>\n
Said Endrawijanto, the mayoralty's spokesman, declined to
\ncomment on the matter. (41\/hhr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tangerang-legislative-council-in-the-dark-1447893297",
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