Administration rings up big bill

BITUNG, North Sulawesi: The Bitung administration has not paid its phone bill since 1998, owing Rp 51 million to state-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom, Antara reported on Wednesday.

Regional legislative council member J.F. Lengkong blamed mismanagement in the administration for the unpaid bill.

"Luckily, PT Telkom is going easy on the administration by giving more time and a special arrangement to help the administration pay." Lengkong said the company could have easily cut off phone service to the administration.

He demanded the administration end the mismanagement in its offices in preparation for the implementation of regional autonomy in 2001.

"Otherwise, we will be left behind by other administrations," he said. (02)