Council examines mayor's annual speech

BEKASI: All factions of the Bekasi City Council are examining the annual accountability report of Mayor Akhmad Zurfaih, after a copy of it was submitted to councillors on Thursday.

Councillor Syafrudin of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said on Friday his faction needed time to peruse the 40-page report.

"We will thoroughly examine the report to decide whether it is honest and logical," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

The report focuses on the development of agriculture, manpower, health, education, youth and sports in the city during the 2003 budget year, and contains audit results on the use of budget, income and information about other social problems.

Included in the report is the issue of Jakarta's dump in Bantar Gebang, which is now closed due to public protests after it polluted the environment and was held responsible for health problems.

The mayor claimed his report was in accordance with the facts and had not been engineered.

"I hope the councillors have the same perspective with us in examining the report," he said. -- JP