20 infants die of malnutrition

PADANG, West Sumatra: At least 20 infants aged under five have died of malnutrition in the past three months, an irony to the fact that the province has long enjoyed a surplus in rice output.

Inspector General of Development Fuad Rasyid told local officials during his recent visit here that he could hardly believe the high death toll of malnourished children, second only to West Java.

"Being a West Sumatra native, I'm very concerned about this contradiction. I will verify the report (on malnutrition) myself, whether it is true or not," Fuad said as quoted by Antara on Monday.

The province notches an average 300,000 tons of rice annually, according to the head of the provincial logistics office, Muslim AK.

Muslim said his office had 2,250 tons of rice subsidized by the central government in storage and was waiting for instructions from Jakarta before distributing it to famine- stricken areas.

The social affairs office, another institution sanctioned by the government to distribute the humanitarian aid, has not yet made any move to help, much to Fuad's disappointment.

"Must we wait for our superintendent's permit if victims start falling? You must take the initiative in coping with this matter," Fuad told local officials. (28)