House members shocked on provincial tours
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the House of Representatives' Commission IV were taken aback Monday to see Central Kalimantan residents without protection in braving the haze choking the province.
"On arrival at the provincial capital of Palangkaraya, we were surprised to see that people at the airport did not use masks to protect their mouth and nose from inhaling the thick smoke covering the city," said Ali Hardi Kiai Demak, who led the eight- member group on their tour to the province.
The commission handles public works, transportation, communications and public housing matters.
Legislative commissions, entering a recess in their second session, are visiting provinces to get a closer look at problems to be brought before their hearings when the next session begins in May.
Commission IV members broached the subject of the locals' ignorance of health hazards about the haze during a meeting with deputy governor Eliser Gerson, Antara reported yesterday.
Smog is again shrouding the provincial capital following a second wave of devastating forest fires in Kalimantan.
In another tour, House Commission I on security and defense, law, politics and information visited North Sulawesi. Members discovered the local press on the brink of collapse due to the crisis.
The group, led by Aisyah Amini, held a meeting with officials of the local branch of the Association of Newspapers Publishers, chaired by Boy L.F. Warouw.
Monetary turmoil has battered the newspaper industry in the country in tandem with skyrocketing prices of newsprint, which is priced in U.S. dollars. Several publications have embarked on austerity measures, including reducing the number of their pages.
Warouw was quoted by Antara as confirming that five local newspapers were in dire financial straits due to the cost of newsprint.
Saying the problem would be her commission's main concern, Aisyah promised to bring it before a hearing with the government to seek a solution.
The group also discussed financial problems facing owners of movie theaters and private radio stations in the province.
Commission members also visited the penitentiary in the provincial capital Manado, and later called on the government to improve conditions in prisons in North Sulawesi and Maluku province.
"Considering the rising prices following the monetary crisis, the meal allowance for prisoners in the two provinces should be raised a little higher than the current Rp 1,600 per day," Soegiarto, the commission's deputy chairperson, said.
Commission V on industry, mining, trade manpower, cooperatives and the environment visiting Ternate and Halmahera in North Maluku. They heard of the alleged embezzlement of funds collected by the Halmahera Jaya cooperative from clove growers in Ternate.
Supartha Nida, who led the commission tour, said in Ternate Monday that growers reported the allegations to them. Although he did not elaborate, he said his commission would discuss the case with Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya.
In Dili, East Timor, Commission III on agriculture, forestry, transmigration and food affairs, was welcomed by deputy governor J. Haribowo.
They subsequently met with local officials to discuss development progress in the country's youngest province.
Haribowo said in the meeting there was a likelihood of food shortages in September and October due to crop failures last year in almost all districts in the province.
"Many are really afraid of food shortages because of the failed harvest," Antara quoted him as saying. (rms)