Rice for the poor stolen

JAKARTA: Local logistics depot officials were summoned by Bogor City Council on Wednesday in connection with the alleged theft of cheap rice for the poor.

"Just what happened in Rumpin district, Bogor regency? The rice packages for the poor, which should be 20 kilograms each, weigh only 18 kilograms to 19 kilograms," chairman of council Commission B on economic affairs Suryo Winarno said.

He alleged that the rice was stolen while being transported from the logistics warehouse to the district, Antara reported.

The deputy head of the Cianjur Logistics Agency said the rice had been weighed properly before being sent to the districts.

A kilogram of rice normally costs about Rp 3,000, while the cheap rice distributed by the government is Rp 1,000/kilogram, but many have complained about the poor quality.

In Bogor regency, cheap rice has been allocated for 81,253 poor families in 35 districts.

The rice is to be disbursed after the districts pay for it.

The heads of several districts, including Kelapanunggal, Gunungputri and Cisarua, have not ordered any rice because they lack the funds.--JP