House denies reports of free foodstuff
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)