Legislators warn of envy

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the House of Representatives are urging the management of the plush Sentul race circuit, about 40 kilometers south of here, to employ local residents to avoid social envy.

Legislators in charge of sports development said during their visit to the Rp 106.5 billion (US$47.5 million) circuit on Tuesday that in Indonesia, automotive sports belong to the wealthy.

Legislator Muhammad Affandi, who led the 19-member delegation, said that for Indonesians in general, automotive sports are "identical" with luxury.

The management should give local residents a sense of belonging to the sports facilities, Affandi said as quoted by Antara.

Sentul circuit director Tinton Suprapto said that the management has, from the outset, employed local residents, though mostly in menial jobs. (pan)