Subdistrict heads get motorcycles

KEBUMEN, Central Java: Kebumen regency has spent Rp 1.25 billion of the regional budget to provide motorcycles for 125 subdistrict heads.

By 2005, all 460 subdistrict heads in the regency will have obtained the vehicles, Regent Rustriningsih said on Thursday.

Rustriningsih, who is a member of the Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said there was no political motives behind the gift to the subdistrict heads.

Many subdistrict heads ride their private vehicles to go to their offices.

She said that the motorcycles would be useful for the subdistrict heads, particularly those who are assigned in areas prone to natural disasters.

By riding motorcycles, Rustriningsih expected the subdistrict heads could arrive in disaster-affected areas faster so that they could take immediate actions to deal with the disasters.

She said heads of remote or disaster-prone subdistricts or those who pay their taxes on time will be the first to receive the motorcycles. -- JP