Beware of false fund-raisers: Harun Al Rasyid
Beware of false fund-raisers: Harun Al Rasyid
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the city's anniversary organizing committee, Harun Al Rasyid, has warned the public, particularly company owners, to be wary of people asking for donations.
"As we are celebrating the city's 468th anniversary, many people are using this opportunity to ask for donations. I warn Jakartans to be wary of those people. Residents can check with the city administration if those people claim that they have secured permits or letters of recommendation from the city administration," Harun said at City Hall yesterday.
Harun, who is also the city secretary, told reporters that city administration has decided not to ask for funds from the public to finance various activities held to celebrate the city's anniversary on June 22.
He said that the city administration prohibits any activity to collect fund from Jakartans to finance the anniversary activities. However, the city appreciates people's participation in organizing the activities.
"It is true there is a governor instruction to form an organizing committee in every subdistrict, but it is not regulating ways to collect funds," he said.
Harun said the city administration considers donations, or other kinds of activities, as spontaneous gestures shown by Jakartans as an expression of gratitude and happiness with the city's rapid development.
"The city administration has never asked Jakartans to donate money to finance the anniversary," Harun said.
However, he added, the organizing committee called for the participation of companies in making the event a great success.
"We invite companies to support and sponsor certain activities," Harun said.
The organizing committee has prepared approximately 1000 activities throughout the city to commemorate the anniversary, which will be carried out from the subdistrict level.
The activities include social, cultural and economic activities such as decoration competitions and exhibitions on development, as well as additional activities such as fire works at the Monument National (Monas).
Harun said that there are several activities which are considered key activities, including the Jakarta Festival held from May 15 to 21, the Jakarta Fair from June 17 to July 15 and the Jakshop festival, which will be held in July..
Harun also said that the French government would feature fire works and a laser beam show at Monas on August 19.
"Before the shows, the city administration will hold a dinner party at Monas at which Jakartans are given a chance to have dinner at a long table (2 km) set around the monument and eat food provided by sponsors," he explained.
On August 27, Harun said, there will be a decorative vehicles parade.
The city administration will also hold the Jakarta Food Festival from September to October.(yns)