New E. Jakarta mayor installed

JAKARTA (JP): Andi Mappaganty has been installed as the new mayor of East Jakarta, replacing Sudarsono, who returns to his former post in the Armed Forces Headquarters.

Mappaganty was ordered by Governor Sutiyoso to devote his attention to providing those in his ward with enough food to see them through the economic crisis.

"You should pay serious attention to social safety net programs which are intended to prevent any further outbreaks of social unrest," he said during Wednesday's ceremony marking the new mayor's appointment.

Sutiyoso said social safety net programs already introduced by the city administration included labor intensive projects to improve public facilities, drain cleaning, planting vegetables on vacant plots of land and granting permission for street cafes to open in certain areas.

"Other programs include allowing local people to hold self- defense programs in residential areas in cooperation with the security forces," he said.

Mappaganty, a former deputy mayor of East Jakarta, was born in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, on July 28, 1942 and is the father of three children. (ind)