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Celebrities donate ponchos
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Celebrities donate ponchos
Over Rp 400,000 (US$141.5) was raised for charity early this week as seven celebrities sold autographed white ponchos bearing their distinctly unique brand of amateur artwork at the Atrium of Plaza Indonesia.
Famous names such as singer Ikang Fawzi, avant-guard musician Harry Roesli and business-woman Dewi Motik Pramono painted the ponchos with curious designs and then labeled them with such unusual names as "Anything you believe in" and "Aids."
The seven ponchos were then auctioned to the public with the proceeds going to the Krida Bakti foundation to finance harelip operations for the needy.
The highest bids went to film director Arifin C. Noer's paltry sketch of a flower and designer Robby Tumewu's crisscross art drawing, each selling for Rp 100,000 ($46.51).
It was unclear whether the buyers bid on such "plain" artwork out of pure altruism or because they thought the price included the lovely models donning the exotic ponchos. (mds)
Cindy Crawford to visit Jakarta
Cindy Crawford, the supermodel from the United States, will attend the grand finale of the 1994 Indonesian model championships slated for June 2 at Sahid Jaya hotel.
The organizing committee has selected 20 finalists from approximately 2,000 participants from across the country.
Suara Pembaruan, an afternoon daily, reported that the contest is aimed at meeting the needs of Indonesian advertising companies and production houses for professional models.
The contest is sponsored by Putri Pertiwi, a modeling agency, Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI), and Indonesian Advertising Company Association (PPPI).(03)
Councilor supports higher parking fees
A councilor proposed that the administration increase the hourly parking fees instead of imposing higher fees for the first two hours only.
Helmy A.R. Syihab from the City Council's Commission B on finance said the proposed policy would discourage private car owners from using their vehicles, and thus reduce traffic congestion.
"Private car users will feel burdened by such high fees," he explained.
Helmy's proposal came following reports of the administration's plan to increase parking fees.
He also suggested that the city's parking authority issue monthly parking tickets which will reduce the amount of cash circulating among parking attendants and minimize the possibility of embezzlements in parking fee management.
According to his proposal, the tickets -- whose colors change every month -- should be available at every gas station, the Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily reported on Tuesday.
He also said that the city administration should support the involvement of the private sector in building parking facilities as they contribute to city's income.
However, he urged the administration to standardize the parking fees at some private parking places. According to Helmy, there is a commercial center which does not charge any parking fees for its clients and is therefore not obliged to contribute to the city's income.
Parking fees at commercial centers vary from Rp300 to Rp500 for the first two hours, but the Pondok Indah Mall, a shopping mall in South Jakarta, offers free parking to its shoppers.
The councilor also criticized the city's Traffic and Transportation Control Agency which he said has not taken action against people who park their vehicles on the roadside.(03)