Ridiculous flood monitoring post

Ridiculous flood monitoring post

From Warta Kota

Being concerned about the condition of my relatives during the
recent floods, on Feb. 4 I telephoned the Flood Monitoring Post
(Posko Banjir) for East Jakarta at 819-2172.

What really shocked me was that after his polite "Good
afternoon, flood monitoring post" came the brisk answer "I don't
know" to my inquiry whether the area behind Cipinang penitentiary
had been hit by floods. He gave the reason that the post was
located at the East Jakarta mayoralty building. To my
frustration, when asked what the post is supposed to do, he
replied: "Monitoring, of course!"

The next annoying thing was his suggestion that I should check
with the related subdistrict office, whose phone numbers again he
did not know.

Half an hour later I phoned again -- as a test -- but this
time under the pretext of wishing to give a donation. A different
voice replied: "Thank you. We look forward to it. Come anytime or
we can have someone pick it up."

When I asked him to name the inundated areas and the criteria
of would-be receivers, he immediately barked: "Mister, you are
really fussy. How much is it that you wish to contribute anyway?"

I put down the phone and said to myself: "Pak (Mister)
Sutiyoso, what's the good of having flood monitoring posts if
they are not even good for handling donations."

MIRANDA

Jakarta