Religious office head under fire

Religious office head under fire

PADANG, West Sumatra: Employees at the West Sumatra religious affairs office have demanded that their boss, Dalimi Abdullah, be dismissed for his alleged involvement in corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN).

At least 100 representatives of the office protested at the provincial legislative council in Padang on Thursday, urging Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aqil Munawwar to remove Dalimi from his post.

The demonstration, coordinated by Def Laizar, was the culmination of the employees' anger over the "unconducive working conditions" at their office since Dalimi took charge.

Carrying banners and posters denouncing Dalimi, the protesters staged a free speech forum outside the council before meeting with senior councillors A Faigi Asa, Moestamir Makmur, Syamsul Bayan and Marhadi Efendi.

Laizar told the councillors Dalimi was involved in KKN in recruiting new civil servants and promoting officials.

"He has corrupted the budget and colluded in the arrangement of projects. He often threatens others and pits them against each other, as well as making slanderous statements," the protest leader said.

Laizar said a number of his colleagues at the religious affairs office had fallen victim to Dalimi's actions. --JP