The rich break Rp 3b vow

The rich break Rp 3b vow

JAKARTA (JP): Wealthy businessmen, who pledged late last year
to contribute about Rp 3 billion (US$1.36 million) to finance
slum improvement projects in conjunction with the commemoration
of Solidarity Day have not yet honored their commitments.

Ign. Setyoko, executive chairman of the 1994 National
Solidarity Day Committee, told reporters over the weekend that
businessmen who were reminded of their pledge simply answered
that they were unable to honor their promises for various
reasons.

"The businessmen said they face financial difficulties because
there have been many parties asking for large amounts of money to
finance the 50th Independence Day celebrations," Setyoko told
Antara news agency.

In a meeting held last December Sudwikatmono, a prominent
businessman who was the treasurer of the committee, had promised
to collect about Rp 3 billion from 20 tycoons to finance various
slum improvement projects in Jakarta.

Setyoko, who is also the director general of social welfare
development of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said due to the
unavailability of money most projects cannot be carried out as
planned.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Services Inten Soeweno, who was
asked to comment on the issue, urged the 20 businessmen to honor
their promises because their donations are badly needed to help
the poor.

Several representatives of social organizations which are
assigned to implement the program said due to the absence of
funds the slum improvement project in Jakarta cannot be done this
year.

The program includes the construction of pavements in slum
areas, establishment of water ditches and building sanitary
facilities, such as collective bathrooms and public lavatories.

The program was planned for areas in the city's five
mayoralties. In Central Jakarta alone there are areas in eight
subdistricts where facilities were to be built: Cikini, Paseban,
Tanah Tinggi, Kampung Bali, Kebon Kacang, Cempaka Baru, Kartini
and Cempaka Putih Baru.

Antara data show that fund collection in connection with the
commemoration of the Solidarity Day in 1993 reached about Rp 13.5
billion.

The collection, which was held between Dec. 1993 and March
1994, was coordinated by Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, one of the most
wealthiest businessmen in the country.

The funds were used to implement the Ciliwung river
normalization along 800 meters and to build low-cost apartments
in Bidaracina, East Jakarta. (yns)