Perumnas rents to rise by 20%

JAKARTA: The State Housing Company (Perum Perumnas) has said it would soon increase the rents for low-cost apartments under its management by 20 percent across the city.

"We haven't raised rents since 1996 despite the prolonged economic crisis. The planned hike is to speed up the return on the government's investment in these projects," M. Latief, director of the Jakarta Perum Perumnas branch, said on Wednesday.

Perumnas, set up by the central government, owns more than 3,000 apartment units in six locations across Jakarta, including those in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Pulo Gebang and Klender in East Jakarta, and Cengkareng in West Jakarta.

All the units are categorized as Type-21 homes.

Currently, the monthly rents for these low-cost apartments range from Rp 120,000 (US$14) to Rp 150,000 in old buildings, and from Rp 220,000 to Rp 230,000 in newer buildings.

Also, the city administration last week announced a plan to raise monthly rents in its low-cost apartments by 20 percent from between Rp 28,500 and Rp 75,000 per unit. --JP.

;JP;MULTA FIDRUS; ANPAj..r.. Greater-Tangerang-pollution Polluting factory remains open JP/8/GREATER

Banned factory remains open

TANGERANG: A plastic factory owned by PT Aries and located on Jl. Karyawan, Karang Tengah, Tangerang municipality, is still operating despite a ban issued by Mayor M. Thamrin.

The factory was ordered to halt operations because it is polluting the environment and does not have a building permit (IMB).

A sign hangs on the factory gates, with a notice written in red that reads: "This factory is shut down and is banned from operating." The sign was hung by the public order agency last month following the mayor's order, but residents have said that it is still operating.

Residents have accused the factory of polluting their wells with industrial waste.

Community unit chief Asmin and neighborhood unit chief Muchtar, along with several residents, went to the municipal administration office on Wednesday morning to file their complaints.

They called on the administration to take harsh measures against the factory for operating in violation of the ban. -- JP

;JP;ZPH; ANPAj..r.. Greater-Art-Anniversary JP/8/GREATER

Chinese art part of city anniversary

JAKARTA: Traditional Chinese music and theater will be included in the 2003 Jakarta Anniversary Festival at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ) in Central Jakarta.

I Gusti Kompyang Raka, spokesman for the GKJ management, said the Chinese cultural performances, along with performances from other cultures -- Arab, European, Malay, Javanese and Sundanese -- would take place every day from June 16 to June 22.

The manager for the Chinese-Indonesian performers, Ronald Salim, said the artists were just beginning to revive their vanishing legacy.

The performers come from Medan and Jakarta, while their costumes are delivered directly from Hong Kong. -- Antara