Council addresses buildings' function

BEKASI: The Bekasi Council will evaluate its policy on buildings used for certain activities without the necessary permit, particularly houses and commercial premises used as places of worship.

"It's not that we're intending to prevent people from practicing their faith. We just want to overhaul policies on the function of buildings and permits," secretary of Commission A for administrative and legal affairs Aji Ngumboro said on Monday.

The hearing, to be held later this week, Aji said, was in response to the recent violence resulting from the closure of a Christian worship place in Jatimulya, arguing that a house should not be converted into a church.

Aji said there were also commercial premises in the regency, such as shopping malls, where part of the building was used for religious activities. -- JP