City asked to control building permits

City asked to control building permits

JAKARTA: The chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian
Builders Association, Effendi Siregar, asked the city
administration to exert greater control over the issuance of
building permits following the recent collapse of a partly
constructed furniture showroom in Sunter Agung, North Jakarta.

"The administration should issue building permits to qualified
contractors only," he said on Thursday as quoted by Antara.

He also urged construction companies to pay more attention to
the safety of workers rather than focusing simply on business
interests.

Police have arrested two of three suspects in the furniture
showroom collapse, which claimed six lives. The other suspect is
in Singapore. The three have been charged with violating Article
359 of the Criminal Code on death caused by negligence. -- JP