Firms agree to drop the names of heroes

JAKARTA (JP): Ten companies who use the names of national heroes have agreed to omit the names of the heroes from their companies' titles.

Priyono, an official of the City Security and Order Office, said that the agreement was reached in a meeting with 10 businessmen who own a number of buildings or companies named after several heroes. Seven of the companies are Gajah Mada Motor, Gajah Mada Plaza, Bakmi Gajah Mada, Gajah Mada Hotel, Hayam Wuruk Plaza, Hayam Wuruk Amusement center and Hayam Wuruk market.

In the meeting, Priyono said, they agreed to obey the municipal administration order not to use the names of national heroes for commercial purposes but also insisted on more time to think of new names for their businesses.

"The owner of Gajah Mada Plaza has proposed to change the building's name to Gajah Muda Perkasa Plaza or Jl. Gajah Mada Plaza. The city officials prefer the first one," he said.

Meanwhile, the owner of noted noodle restaurant Bakmi Gajah Mada has advised that the company's name will be changed to Bakmi Gajah Madya.

Priyono said that the city administration has ordered business owners using the names of national heroes for their businesses to change them before Nov. 10, National Heroes Day.

In line with the Instruction of Minister of Home Affairs No. 433/1840/SJ, dated May 30, 1995, the city administration will launch an operation to clear up company signboards and billboards throughout the city bearing names of national heroes after Nov. 10.

"We have warned all the companies using the names of the heroes. Our office will not hesitate to dismantle the signs and other billboards using such names after the deadline," Priyono said.

Priyono also said that his office will continue its operation against signboards and billboards using foreign languages.

"The next phase will cover larger areas after the first along major roads linking Blok M in South Jakarta with Pasar Ikan in West Jakarta," he said. In the first operation over 900 billboards using foreign languages were covered with cloth.

He said that a total of over 2,000 billboards and signboards have been found to be using foreign languages in the city.

When asked why the city administration has not yet dismantled the ones which have been covered with cloth, Priyono said that their permits are still valid. Moreover, it is easier said than done, he said.

"We understand that it takes a big amount of money to change them with new ones or maybe their owners have not yet decided on Indonesian names," he added. (yns)