Tangerang streets unlit, unsafe

TANGERANG: Many streets in Tangerang municipality have become unsafe for motorists to pass at night, as hundreds of its streetlights had gone out, were stolen or were otherwise vandalized over the past six months, an official said.

Tangerang Parks Agency head Said Hendrowiyanto said over the weekend that short circuits during the rainy season had caused some of the blacked-out lamps.

"Transvestite sex workers have also deliberately smashed the light bulbs along Jl. TMP Taruna because they prefer to operate in the dark," he said.

Thieves had also cut out lengths of underground cable, which go for a good price on the black market, according to Said.

Meanwhile, light poles along Jl. LP Pemuda and around Cikokol Market have been vandalized by sidewalk vendors to illuminate their products and shops.

"We have spent Rp 2 billion (US$222,223) in fixing and installing 7,029 streetlights in 13 districts this year. As of December, 30 percent of them had 'gone out' again," he said. -- JP