Missing traffic signs cause condemnation

Missing traffic signs cause condemnation

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors condemned the City Land
Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) on Tuesday for neglecting to take
good care of traffic signs and traffic lights.

Councilors Saud Rahman and Mardjuan Bakri of the council's
Commission D for development affairs said separately that the
agency officials had done nothing to prevent the disappearance or
damage of traffic signs and lights.

Mardjuan of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction said the
missing traffic signs should not be considered a small problem
because their disappearance could disrupt traffic flow.

"The city administration should pay serious attention to the
missing or damaged traffic signs," he said.

He said the fact that traffic signs had been missing or
damaged for months proved that DLLAJ officials did not perform
their duties seriously.

"I think there has yet to be significant reform in the city
administration as its working performance is the same as before.

"Under the reformed government, such a work attitude should no
longer be maintained," he said.

Mardjuan vowed that the council would include the missing
traffic signs in the agenda of a Commission D meeting, slated for
next week.

The absence of traffic signs, which the administration
acknowledged two months ago, is most apparent along the city's
toll roads and major thoroughfares. Media reports, however, have
hinted that many traffic signs disappeared early this year.

Recent disappearances, mostly directional signs and some
traffic lights, have become more serious than before. The only
indication that traffic signs existed in some areas are the
remaining poles, as found in East Jakarta's area of Cawang, Jl.
Pramuka, Jl. Matraman and Jl. A. Yani.

Areas in Central Jakarta where traffic signs have disappeared
are Senen, Cempaka Putih and Tanah Abang, while in North Jakarta
are Jl. Yos Sudarso and Jl. Tugu Raya.

Mardjuan said that not all of the traffic signs that the
administration was being criticized over had disappeared or been
damaged, as some were covered by big trees and were impossible to
see.

Saud Rahman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction
alleged that the transportation agency's officials had purposely
neglected to take immediate action over the missing or damaged
traffic signs.

"It has become a common secret in the past that certain
officials commercialized the case.

"They neglected to immediately repair or replace the traffic
signs until their number was financially numerous enough," he
said.

Saud, who is also Commission D deputy chairman, said the
administration had indeed allocated a sufficient budget for the
maintenance of DLLAJ equipment, including traffic signs,
amounting to Rp 6.76 billion (US$965,700) from its 1999/2000 city
budget.

He said the administration should not take a long time to
decide on the repair or replacement of the traffic signs.

"The city administration took immediate action when public
facilities were damaged during a series of unrest a few months
ago. Such rapid action should be taken now," he said. (ind)