House denies reports of free foodstuff
JAKARTA (JP): The secretary-general's office of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) yesterday denied reports that legislators would distribute free but limited basic foodstuff today.
Secretary-General Afif Ma'roef announced that leaflets reporting that House members would distribute basic commodities were distributed by unscrupulous people and that no social services were being held within the MPR/DPR compound on Jl. Gatot Subroto in Central Jakarta.
"We ask people not to rely on rumors spread by irresponsible people and parties which only aim to interfere, disturb and weaken the March 1 to 11 MPR General Session," said Afif.
"People are asked to calm down and constantly pay attention to official government/institutions' announcements," he said.
According to security officers, copies of the mysterious leaflets, which had the MPR/DPR seal on top, were widely circulated yesterday, stating that MPR/DPR members invited Jakartans to go to the MPR/DPR building to receive free basic foodstuff.
The leaflets said people only had to present their Jakarta identity cards and that free transportation home would be provided to carry the foodstuff, the officials told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
The pamphlets stated that each person would receive 10 kilograms of rice and five kilograms each of other staple foods.
Spokesman for the Jakarta Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability (Bakorstanasda Jaya), Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi asked people to immediately report to police or other security offices if they found any of the illegal leaflets.
"We'll also take stern action against people who copy the leaflets and distribute them to other people," said Nachrowi, who is also the Jakarta Military Command's spokesman.
He said Bakorstanasda Jaya personnel were investigating the case and trying to trace the source of the leaflets.
City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang strongly urged people not to believe the unsubstantiated leaflets.
"The leaflets and the information printed in them are nothing but rumors," he said.
"Please, don't count on it. Just carry on with your activities on Monday (today) and don't bother rushing to the House's building, for there will be no free staple foods given away whatsoever," said Aritonang.
He said his office, as well as other local police stations, had received calls from dozens of residents all day yesterday, asking whether the police would give free transportation to the MPR/DPR building and provide coupons for the event.
"The leaflets were compiled by irresponsible people who just wanted to create massive chaos by provoking others. How could they use innocent people by providing them with false expectations," Aritonang said. (jun/cst)