Award for dirtiest city

A few days ago I wrote about Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, as a prime candidate to receive an award for the dirtiest city in Eastern Indonesia.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono now has stated ( The Jakarta Post, June 7) that "A city with a dirty environment shows the inability of its leaders to manage their cities". Noise pollution, of course, should also be added as a major target for the "Dirtiest City Award".

Kupang qualifies not only as the dirtiest city but also the noisiest city in Indonesia. The mayor of Kupang of some 14 years, S.K. Lerik, appears not to hear nor see what goes on in his city. Perhaps he needs glasses and a hearing aid as city is getting more and more dirty and the level of noise created by bemos (mobile discos), motorbikes (with modified exhaust pipes) and the number of kiosks selling music CDs (pirated copies) and playing the music day and night at maximum volume (also near schools and the hospital) is increasing day by day. Of course this is all against the law but the powers that be in Kupang seem not to care; let alone apply the law and set a good example! Shame!! It is a pity that there will be no mayoral elections in Kupang soon. New leadership is required!

ZAFAR YOUNG, Singapore