Publicity fund for council rules questioned

Publicity fund for council rules questioned

JAKARTA (JP): The use of over Rp 4 billion (US$1.7 million) in
funds for familiarizing the public with city regulations has come
into question, giving the impression that many Jakartans do not
know about the regulations.

Councilor Romulus Sihombing of Commission E, which deals with
development affairs, said yesterday both the legal bureau and the
city's public relations office are among the offices most
responsible for informing the public.

The funds allocated this fiscal year for the information
sector total Rp 4.131 billion, an increase over last year's Rp
3.610 billion.

Included under this sector is Rp 200 million for publication
and information on spatial plans and Rp 150 million for maps.
Another Rp 300 million is allotted for information programs on
city development control, Rp 300 million for information programs
on population matters and Rp 200 million for information programs
on health. Another Rp 825 million is allotted for a "public
information project".

Under the legal sector in the city budget, funds for
"intensification of bill distribution" totals Rp 160 million.

Unclear

Council Speaker M.H. Ritonga urged the municipality to "have
the courage to evaluate the effectiveness of city regulations,"
because he said many remained unclear to the public.

He said this "troubling condition" of regulations was raised
in a recent meeting with Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, who
instructed officials to intensify the dissemination of
information to the public.

Ritonga said many regulations remain on the desks of city
offices. Lack of information of the regulations, which clearly
outline the rights and obligations of citizens on various
matters, he said, "hamper public participation in the city's
development".

Property owners, for instance, have claimed they do not know
the rules on fire prevention and management, which clearly lists
fire safety standards.

A foreign resident told The Jakarta Post earlier that neither
the city's population agency or the immigration office, which are
among offices where foreigners must register, informed her that
foreigners are subject to the city rule on foreigners' tax.

Surjadi's favorite example of lack of information on rules is
the one on requesting municipality permission to cut more than 50
centimeters of tree trunks.

"Before I was governor, I never thought I had to ask
permission to cut down my own tree," he says. (anr)