Legislators upset by N. Sumatra

MEDAN, North Sumatra: House of Representatives legislators have expressed their disappointment at the continuing exodus of illegal overseas workers as well as the activities of illegal loggers in North Sumatra.

House Commission VII deputy chairman Ahmad Sanoesi Tambunan said the North Sumatra administration had to tighten the procedure on identity cards (IDs) to stop the issuance of fake IDs.

Many illegal workers come from Java, West Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi, but they managed to obtain ID cards from the North Sumatra administration, he said.

He added that illegal logging, which had reportedly involved government officials, had to be seriously addressed by the local administration.

He said that the recent, huge flood in Bahorok, North Sumatra, which killed over 150 people, showed that North Sumatra was not yet serious in handling illegal logging.

Members of the House commission were visiting the province as part of their activities during the recess. --JP