Legislators seek Idul Fitri bonus
Legislators seek Idul Fitri bonus
SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The East Kalimantan provincial
legislative body (DPRD) was slammed on Friday for allegedly
proposing that its members be given a Rp 75 million bonus each,
ahead of Idul Fitri.
"The proposal is embarrassing. While 250,000 workers from the
timber industry are facing massive layoffs due to the global
recession, DPRD members have seized the opportunity to think
about their own personal wealth," local political observer Sarosa
Hamongpranoto said.
Sarosa added that the legislators should have thought a bit
before making such a proposal because they already receive large
salaries, allowances and other professional benefits, including
cars.
"They are apparently not satisfied by their generous
allowances, so they ask for Idul Fitri bonuses. They should have
a look around at other people, many of them need assistance," he
added. --Antara
HIV/AIDS cases on the rise in NTT
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The number of HIV/AIDS cases in
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) recorded a sharp increase in the last
three years, a local official announced.
Johanis Pake Pani, chairman of his administration's commission
for the prevention of HIV, said there had only been one HIV/AIDS
case in 1998 and that the number had risen to 12 by the end of
this year.
Two of the 12 victims, mostly sex workers and drug addicts,
have died, he said, adding that most of the cases were found in
the provincial capital of Kupang.
Pake said at least seven regencies in NTT were particularly
vulnerable to the spread of HIV/AIDS, requiring special
surveillance from local residents and officials.
The regencies include Kupang, Belu, Alor, East Flores, Maumere
and Ende, he said, adding that the finding was the result of
blood samples taken from 650 different people. --Antara
Firecrackers seized from ship
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Security authorities at Makassar
port in South Sulawesi said on Friday that they had confiscated
thousands of firecrackers from a ship in which thousands more
explosives had been seized in an earlier raid.
At least seven boxes of firecrackers were seized from KM Ganda
Dewata on Thursday, port police chief Com. Kadarusman said. The
ferry had sailed from Jakarta, he added.
On Monday, the police found a container packed with 18 boxes
of firecrackers on the same ship.
Kadarusman said the confiscated firecrackers, seized on
different days, belonged to the same owner, Syekh Bahar, who
lives in Sidrap regency.
He said the police would again summon Bahar for further
questioning over the seizure of the explosives. --Antara
Woman arrested over fake money
KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A 31-year old woman was caught
red-handed at a local traditional market using counterfeit Rp
50,000 banknotes, police said on Friday.
Adj. Sr. Com. Rusli Rais, spokesman for the North Sulawesi
Police office, said Sainab was arrested on Thursday night and is
now being detained in a Kendari Police cell.
The police also confiscated 39 fake Rp 50,000 banknotes from
the suspect, he added.
He said the arrest was made after witnesses became suspicious
of banknotes belonging to Sainap, who had spent a lot of money
shopping without having bargained first with sellers. --Antara
Bus robberies common in Lampung
BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Many residents in Bandar Lampung, the
provincial capital of Lampung, have complained about the common
occurrence of robberies on city buses.
Most cases take place on buses plying the Tanjungkarang to
Perumnas Way Halim route, said an unidentified driver from the
village of Sukarame in Bandar Lampung.
He said some passengers have also been blackmailed on buses
driving along Jl. Sultan Agung.
"Two days ago, an old man was robbed on a yellow city bus
traveling from Tanjungkarang to Way Halim," said another driver,
who declined to be named.
He said the robbers had beaten the victim and forced him to
hand over Rp 140,000 and his wristwatch.
He said he and other drivers were powerless because the
robbers were often violent and armed with weapons. --Antara