Councilors shun city anniversary

BOGOR (JP): An official from the Bogor mayoralty expressed concern over the failure of 16 members of the Bogor Legislative Council to attend a plenary session to commemorate Bogor's 517th anniversary on Thursday.

The official, who asked not to be named, said the 16 councilors, part of the 45-strong legislative council, should not have missed the historic session because the event did not last for more than two hours.

The 16 councilors, all from the United Development Party (PPP), could not attend the session because it coincided with a PPP campaign rally, the official was quoted by Antara as saying.

"Those failing to attend the meeting included the deputy speaker and the head of the faction," he said.

"Their excuse, however, cannot be accepted because the campaign rally lasted for hours, while the council's session was just two-hours long," he said.

"This shows the councilors pay more attention to their own party than Bogor in general," he said.

Thursday's celebration was a modest affair, highlighted by the circumcision of 112 children from poor families.