Many Chinese remain alien

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: As many as 1,177 people, or 38 percent of Chinese descendants in the province, have not applied for Indonesian citizenship, an official has said.

Head of the socio-political affairs section of the provincial government, A. Azis S., said on Saturday that of the 3,102 people of Chinese descent across Lampung, only 1,925 had applied for citizenship.

He said financial problems and the complicated procedures were the main reasons why many Chinese are disinterested in seeking citizenship.

"We have tried to simplify the administrative procedures in the hope that more Chinese will register," he said as quoted by Antara. (pan)