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)