Mayor's favoritism complained

TANGERANG: A group of artists on the Tangerang Municipal Art Council (DKKT) have complained the Tangerang mayor favors sports over the arts.

Endro, a DKKT leader, said in a meeting on Friday that Mayor Wahidin Halim only paid attention to soccer players, providing them with lavish facilities.

"Artists don't even have a theater or art center as a means to develop their talents," Endro said.

The city's Persita Tangerang soccer team had reached its peak in the Indonesian soccer league in 2002 by becoming a competition finalist before losing to Petrokimia Gresik, he said.

Artists, meanwhile, had been contributing to the municipality since January 2002 by staging a series of anti-drug campaigns to students and the community.

"We hope the mayor gives equal attention to all members of society. Artists also desire to actively take part in community development," he said. -- JP