Citra Marga holding food fair for poor

JAKARTA (JP): Tollroad construction firm PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada, a subsidiary of the Citra Group owned by Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, is holding a fair of cheap staple foods at eight of the city's subdistricts considered as poor areas.

According to Bambang Soeroso, executive director of the Citra Group, the fair -- which started Monday and will last until the last day of Ramadhan -- will be held in Warakas, North Jakarta; Cakung, Setu and Cilangkap in East Jakarta; Jagakarsa and Bintaro in South Jakarta; Kamal in West Jakarta and Gambir in Central Jakarta.

The event is meant to help less fortunate Jakartans celebrate Idul Fitri.

"At each location, we'll offer about 1,500 packages which contain cooking oil, rice and sugar worth Rp 7,000 per package," Bambang said in a statement Monday.

Aside from selling cheap food, the firm will also donate 500 Idul Fitri gifts to needy people.

On Sunday, the Khairunisa Foundation, a social group led by Sri Harmoko, wife of House Speaker Harmoko, presented 200 similar gifts to people living in the Bidara Cina and Kampung Melayu subdistricts in East Jakarta.

"We want to give something to these people. It might not mean much helping them cope with the economic crisis, but I believe it will cheer them up a little bit," Sri said. (edt)