ID card applicants face screening

ID card applicants face screening

JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta mayoralty has said it plans to intensify the screening of all ID card applications, especially from newcomers to the city, in an attempt to control the flow of migrants into the capital.

"Intensive screening will be carried out in line with the existing regulations," Satibi Darwis, an assistant to the head of the mayoralty's administration section, was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.

Satibi said that identity cards would only be issued if applicants could provide documentary evidence confirming that they had accommodation in the city, a guaranteed job here and funds amounting to the ticket fare back to their respective home towns.

He said that uncontrolled migration into the capital would place a heavy burden on the city administration.

Data from the mayoralty's population office puts the population of East Jakarta at 2.05 million.

The official figure for newcomers arriving in the capital after the Idul Fitri holiday this year is 52,000, compared to 230,000 for the whole city. (hhr)