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