Event preparations sluggish: Mayor

BANDUNG: Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada acknowledged on Saturday that preparations for the Asia Africa Conference Golden Jubilee were far from complete, although the conference is only six months away.

Evidence could be seen in unfinished projects, such as the extension of the tarmac of Husain Sastranegara airport, a tree- planting project and roadwork in the city, he said.

The mayor blamed the sluggish preparations on low funds. The central government has, so far, disbursed Rp 1 billion (US$106,383), while the total funds needed for preparations is Rp 83 billion, the mayor said.

Some 80 countries have expressed their readiness to participate in the golden jubilee ceremony. -- JP