Friday, February 29, 2008

German school bridges cultures


Multa Fidrus , The Jakarta Post , Tangerang Fri, 02/29/2008 City

Students at the German international school, wearing traditional Indonesian clothes, performed music and dances for Germany's visiting foreign minister and vice chancellor, Franz Walter Steinmeier, on Wednesday.

"I'm going to show my skill in traditional Balinese dance for the minister," said one 9-year-old girl, a German national.

Deutsche Internationale Schule (DIS), in Bumi Serpong Damai satellite city, in Tangerang, left Steinmeier with a positive impression for its efforts to bridge cultural differences among students of different nationalities.

"Our global world expects students to acquire skills which German schools abroad are well-equipped to provide, such as multilingualism, openness and acceptance of other cultures," he said after listening to Indonesian students age between four and six speak in German.

To encourage students to expand their horizons, he promised to provide scholarships for Indonesian students who could use the German language through a cooperation with Indonesia's Education Ministry.

During his visit, Steinmeier introduced the "Schools: Partners for the Future Initiative". The program's goal is to build a worldwide network of at least 1,000 partners schools through which to awaken young people's interest in and enthusiasm for modern-day Germany and German society, he said.

"We want to develop fruitful and long-lasting cooperation with Germany and inspire schools, their teachers and pupils to enjoy an open exchange of views and engage in cooperation. For this reason the initiative plans to support many schools and with a broad range of services," said Steinmeier.

By providing additional courses, the initiative will help both pupils and teachers acquire training with a long-term impact. The initiative will thus expand young people's skills, preparing them for study in Germany and subsequent careers, he said.

Steinmeier's visit to the German school was part of his three-day visit to the country to build closer ties.

The German international school began admitting Indonesian students in 2000. In the past two years, 20 percent of German-speaking students at the school between the ages of 3 and 19 are Indonesians.

Since 2005, a trilingual elementary school has also opened. Students in first grade onward have classes in three languages -- English, Indonesian and German. The school uses an Indonesian curriculum that serves to prepare students to enter an international school system.

Kandank Jurank Doank: Free nature education



STARTING POINT: Children and their parents listen attentively to instructors at the Blok Miring open amphitheater, where they explain the day's activities. (JP/Multa Fidrus)


OVER THE POND: An outbound activities facility at the school offers children some wet fun, with a pond and a suspended bamboo pole. (JP/Multa Fidrus)


Multa Fidrus , The Jakarta Post , Tangerang Sun, 02/24/08 Discover
Hundreds of children gathered cheerfully to learn together at Kandank Jurank Doank, a community nature "school" founded and managed by singer and TV presenter Dik Doank.

The school is located in the Elvita housing complex of Sawah Lama subdistrict in Ciputat, Tangerang, where Dik lives. It is surrounded by a perfect landscape with football and basketball courts, a library, rumah pintar (activities center) and a small music studio. Other facilities include rice fields, fish ponds, an outbound playground, railroads and Blok Miring, which has an open amphitheater.

In high spirits, the children recently sat at the Blok Miring to hear instructions from Dik Doank and friends on what to do during class.

Dik himself usually greets the students at the opening of the Sunday class: "Adik-adik (little sisters/brothers), how are you today? Welcome back to Kandank Jurank Doank -- it's great to see you again!"

He encouraged the children who were visiting the school to ask as many questions as possible about everything and anything they wanted to know about the lesson of the day.

"Today, we will learn how to make bags and pencil cases from used cardboard and soft drink cans, and after the session, you will follow a series of outbound activities in groups," Dik said.
"Have you prepared scissors, glue, used cans and cardboard as we told you last week?"
"Sudah, Kakak! (Yes, big brother)" the children answered in unison.

Dik divided the students into several groups to be guided by dozens of volunteers in the day's activities.

The outbound activity involved climbing, walking across a bamboo pole in the rice field and fishing.

The school is open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Sunday, and is free of charge.

Wearing play clothes and flip-flops, and carrying schoolbags containing coloring pencils, rulers and paper for class, dozens of children come enthusiastically to Kandank Jurank Doank every Sunday for the extra lessons.

One of the children, 8 year-old Bianca, looked up curiously earlier this month, when The Jakarta Post approached her and her friends with a camera in hand.

"Are you going to take pictures and write a story about us?" she asked.

Bianca, who is nicknamed "Chacha", is a student at Pondok Ranji state elementary school. She said she enjoyed learning at Kandank Jurank Doank, because she and her friends could learn things they did not at a formal school.

"We don't have to pay for everything we learn at this school, and the kakak-kakak are very kind," she told the Post, referring to the volunteer instructors as "big brothers and sisters".

Speaking with the Post while observing the children, Nurhayati Khavivah, 36, who lives in Pamulang, said she brought her 7 year-old daughter to Kandank Jurank Doank because she wanted her daughter to learn about nature and play with other children in beautiful surroundings.

"My husband and I found it difficult to find simple words to explain about nature to my curious daughter," she added.

The mother of two said all activities at the nature school were highly valuable for the children, because formal schools did not provide the interactive programs, outdoor activities or exposure to celebrities that Kandank Jurank Doank did.

Other parents also praised Dik Doank for the attention he had given to children's education through establishing the school.

Dik Doank said he had initially established a painting and music learning group for about a dozen children in the neighborhood when he moved to the complex in 1994.

Over time, the learning group developed into the Kandank Jurank Doank community school, which now has 2,500 regular students from the neighborhood and nearby subdistricts.

The children can try a number of activities at the school, from painting to crafts, from music to singing, and from football to nature walks.

"We frequently invite celebrities as star lecturers, and the lessons we present each time are adjusted to the guest star's field. If we have no guest star, I usually handle the classes myself, along with 45 crew members," Dik said.

He said the crew all worked on a volunteer basis, without pay.

"All of them are volunteers who have a concern for children's education. Through this school, we want to create a nation that does not imitate other nations, but one that has its own identity," Dik said.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

German students feature traditional Bali dance



Students of Deustche International Schule feature Bali traditional dance on stage to welcome visiting Germanys’s Foreign Minister and Vice- Chancellor Franz Walter Steinmeier to their campus in Serpong, Tangerang. Multa Fidrus

Germany's visiting Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor



Germanys’s Foreign Minister and Vice- Chancellor Franz Walter Steinmeier listens to Indonesian students chatting in German Language in their classroom at the Deutsche International Schule (DIS) in Bumi Serpong Damai satelite city, Tangerang. Steinmeier's visit to the school was part of his three-day visit to build relationships with Indonesia. Multa Fidrus

South Tangerang City to exist in March

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The House of Representatives confirmed the bill on the formation of South Tangerang city will be endorsed along with 14 other proposed new regencies and municipalities by March.

"The Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the House will hold a plenary session on regional divisions and the results will be submitted to the House to be approved by the end of March," Arief Natadiningrat, the chairman of an ad hoc committee for regional division at the House, said in Tangerang on Tuesday.

In a visit to the Ciputat district administration office -- soon to house the new municipal administration -- Arief was accompanied by several other legislators, including Biem Benyamin, M. Said, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas and Ratu Cicih.

The legislators met Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar, regency secretary Nanang Komara, administration assistant Mas Iman Kusnandar, council deputy speaker Bayu Moerdani and all heads of the districts to be merged into the new city.

Biem Benyamin said the establishment of South Tangerang city was an urgent need because the southern part of Tangerang was growing fast.

"I don't agree with those who say regional division will burden the state budget. Regions are the source of state revenue, and the formation of new regions will bring improved welfare to the people," he said.

Regent Ismet said the Tangerang regency administration was preparing people to staff the new administration.

"It will also hand over (all) assets ... to the new administration," he said, adding that he expected the new municipality to be declared about April 16.

The formation of an independent municipality in the southern part of Tangerang regency was first proposed in 1992 by residents of Ciputat, Pamulang, Serpong and Pondok Aren.

The southern part of Tangerang -- comprising Ciputat, East Ciputat, Pamulang, Pondok Aren, Serpong, North Serpong and Setu districts -- has developed residential and commercial areas, and industrial zones.

Ismet Iskandar had pushed for the three newly formed districts of East Ciputat, North Serpong and Setu to be included in the proposed South Tangerang municipality.

Bylaw fails to keep 'becak' off street

A 2005 Tangerang municipal administration bylaw has failed to force becak (pedicabs) from main streets, a study revealed Tuesday.

The number of becak operating in the municipality has increased mostly due to a migration of drivers from Jakarta, where becak were banned in 1998.

A recent survey by a local NGO found the number of becak on the municipality's main roads has increased from 700 in 2004 to 1,500 in 2008.

In response to the figures, Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim said it was difficult to ban becak from main streets in the city.

"The administration is unlikely to take repressive measures against becak drivers because we must consider the humanitarian aspect," he said.

People from low-income brackets, including becak drivers, struggle to feed their families, he said.
Muksih, 40, a becak driver who operates daily at Pasar Anyar traditional market, said the becak-free-zone policy would only cause more suffering for him and other drivers.

"We are already poor. How we can earn enough money to feed our families? Right now, I don't even know if I will be able to continue sending my children to school," he said.

The administration issued the bylaw in April 2005, citing the energy-efficient becak as the main cause of traffic congestion. The bylaw allows becak to operate in residential areas only. -- JP

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

CIPUTAT OVERPASS WORK





CIPUTAT OVERPASS: The ongoing construction of the Ciputat overpass has come to the second phase of work, putting the concrete floor over the pylons. Motorists are suggested to avoid passing by narrwing road in font of the Ciputat market due to traffic congestion. Multa Fidrus

DRUG SMUGGLING

Four foreigners nabbed for drugs
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

TANGERANG: Four foreign nationals were arrested last week for allegedly smuggling drugs into the country, customs and excise officers and the police said over the weekend.

Three of the four suspects were arrested soon after their arrival at Soekarno-Hatta airport on Feb. 20. They were identified as Thai nationals Thitirat, 24, and Naksri, 27, and an Englishman, Michael Anthony, 34.

"Our officers considered Thitirat to be acting suspiciously at the customs checkpoint," Eko Darmanto, head of intelligence at the airport's customs and excise office, said.

He said officers found drugs estimated to be worth Rp 2 billion (US$210,000) hidden in a bag Thitirat was carrying.

Eko said interrogation of Thitirat led officers to arrest Naksri and Michael Anthony, who were also at the airport at that time.

Officers seized four small plastic bags containing a total of 515 grams of cocaine from Naksri and Anthony, Eko said.

The police subsequently learned of the alleged receiver's address and arrested another Englishman, identified as John Patrick Gerard, 52, in Cilandak, South Jakarta, late Thursday.

"We confiscated eight grams of cocaine from Gerard," the airport police's drugs chief, Comr. Haryanto, said. -JP

Saturday, February 23, 2008

BRAIN SPORT


WAHIDIN HALIM'S CUP: As many as 1208 people from all walks of life take part in chess competition organized by the Tangerang municipal administration to scramble for Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim's cup in conjuction with the municipality's 15th anniversary. The picture was taken at the administration ofice hall Friday. Multa Fidrus

Thursday, February 21, 2008

REGIONAL WAGE

Banten won't move on minimum wage

TANGERANG: Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiah has refused to review a proposal from Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar on a new minimum wage for the regency, an official said Wednesday.

"The governor has decided that the minimum wage for the regency has already been set in accordance with the regulation that requires an assessment on the cost of living by a team of workers, employers and the administration," said Eutik Suarta, head of the provincial manpower agency.

In November, the Tangerang regency administration announced it would increase the monthly wage by 8 percent from Rp 882,500 to Rp 953,500, a move approved by the governor.

However, workers demanded the administration review the decision and increase the wage to Rp 958,600. Multa Fidrus/JP

CRIME : Pirated Software


PIRATED SOFTWARE: Serpong Police chief Adj. Insp. Dewa Wijaya examines computers running pirated software seized from 11 companies in tangerang, Banten.
Company directors face trial over pirated software
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Police have completed an investigation of three companies in Serpong district, Tangerang, accused of using pirated computer software.

"The directors of the three companies will soon stand trial as the cases are now in the hands of the prosecutors," Serpong Police chief Adj. Insp. Dewa Wijaya said Wednesday.

Police have named eight other companies in the industrial district of Tangerang suspected of using pirated copies of Microsoft software.

None of the suspects have been taken into custody.

Serpong Police examined the computer software at 20 companies in the area between November and January.

Only nine companies could prove they were using original products, while 11 others were found using pirated versions of Microsoft Office Personal Edition 2003, Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Windows XP 2002, WinZio, Symantex Anti Virus 9.0, Adobe Photoshop CS2, ACDSee Pro and AutoCAD 2004.

The 11 companies have been identified as tissue paper manufacturer PT Jakarta Indomega, building materials producers PT Arthamix and PT Karya Beton, finance companies PT Verena Otomotif Finance, PT BPR Marcoindo and PT BPR Indomitra, spring bed producers PT Hugar Rama Grapindo and PT Standar Consitura, and printing firms PT One Stop Digital Printing, PT Matrix Acuan Media and PT Panca Usaha Tama Paramitha.

"The illegal use caused billions of rupiah in losses to the software producer.

"We confiscated two CPUs from each company as evidence so as not to disrupt their business," Dewa said.

The companies have been charged under the 2002 law on intellectual property rights and the Criminal Code.

If convicted, company executives could face prison terms of up to five years and Rp 500 million fines.

During the operation, police involved experts from the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

BSA representative Donny A. Sheyoputera said that alliance fully supported police efforts to uphold the law and protect intellectual property rights holders.

"I hope this can be a good example for other law enforcers across the country in their efforts to protect intellectual property rights so that piracy can be reduced," he said.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

SNAPSHOT : Serpong Tollway Traffic Jam


EVENING FATIGUE: Traffic jam might be nice views to see in the evening but not for those facing the long line after tiring works at office. The picture was taken at a section of the Bintaro-Serpong turnpike recently. Multa Fidrus

ENVIRONMENT: Flood Handling

Tangerang seeks help on floods

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Tangerang municipal administration called on residents not to dispose of garbage into waterways and to plant more trees to prevent flooding.

In response to residents' complaints of developments believed to have created floods in several areas, Mayor Wahidin Halim said he ordered relevant city agencies to be more selective in giving building permits to housing developers.

"We don't want the construction of buildings and housing complexes to damage the environment. We have obliged each developer to build at least a man-made lake for water catchment and a proper drainage system," he said Friday.

Wahidin said the administration will begin feasibility studies for flood handling and the project is expected to start next year.

"We can go faster with the flood handling project should the central government and the Banten and Jakarta provincial administrations provide financial assistance," he said.

The central government promised in 2006 to disburse Rp 250 billion for the municipality to build dams and revitalize lakes.

According to Wahidin, recent studies conducted by the administration showed that Tangerang municipality needs a total of Rp 1.2 billion (five times the annual budget) to eliminate flood problems in the city.

This year the administration allocated part of its budget to develop drainage infrastructure.
"We cannot wait for the funds (promised by the central government)," Wahidin said.

Seven districts, including Cileduk, Karang Tengah, Cipondoh and Cibodas, were submerged by floods early this month.

Similarly, the Tangerang regency administration also saw flooding hit many districts in the regency early this month.

The focus of the administration, however, is on repairing roads and bridges damaged by the flooding.

Head of the regency's public works agency, Akip Syamsudin, said 45 out of existing 150 bridges across the regency were seriously damaged. Potholes, he said, were seen on 65 percent of the total 1,200 kilometers of road.

"Road and bridge repair is our priority now," he said.

Yulianto, head of water resource department at the agency, said floods inundated many districts in the regency because 113 small rivers flowing from the south to the north had become shallow and narrow.

"Illegal occupation of river banks by residents who have erected buildings along the banks is also a contributing factor to floods because the rivers can no longer accommodate water," he said.

AIRPORT : Body Entry Scanner

Airport scanner not functioning
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The body entry scanner belonging to the National Narcotics Agency and used to identify drug smugglers through their body temperature at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is out of operation.

Eko Darmanto, the intelligence chief at the airport's Customs and Excise Office, said the device had run out of the chemical substance on which it runs.

"It's been six months since we could use the device. The chemical substance can only be purchased in the United States," Eko told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He said the customs office had reported the problem to the drug agency, which is looking for a partner company to provide the chemical substance.

Eko said airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II planned to install more sophisticated body entry scanners at the airport.

"The body entry scanner we currently use can only work through body temperature, but the new device to be operated by the airport operator can transparently detect the insides of the human body," he said.

However, the airport's plans for the new device are opposed by a legislative councilor and an NGO in Tangerang.

"It's all right if the airport operator uses the device to anticipate possible crime, but will the device apply to all passengers without exemption? What about religious leaders, state officials? Will they be treated the same as others?" Toton Al Bukhori, a local religious leader, told the Post.

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

LEISURE


CULTURAL SHIFT: A mother and her daughter enjoy a light memont under cloud by fishing at lake Cipondoh, Tangerang municipality, Banten. Fishing is an activity that used to be dominated only by men. Multa Fidrus

COMEDIAN'S FATE

Comedian to stand trial for fraud
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Comedian Sujarwo, who plays Jarwo Kwat in the political satire Republik Mimpi, is yet to stand trial for his alleged involvement in a fraud case.

However, prosecutor Teuku Rahman said the case would soon be handed to the Tangerang District Court.

"Since police arrested the main suspect in the case, Andar Jaya, last Thursday we can now go ahead with the case in court," he said Monday.

Police said Andar had supplied them with the name of another person allegedly involved in the Rp 200 million fraud case.

"We will soon arrest that person as a new suspect in the case," said the head of criminal investigations with the Tangerang Police, Comr. Budhi Herdi Sisianto.

Andar allegedly borrowed Rp 190 million from Alex Cokro Raharjo to finance a comedy show in 2006 and Sujarwo was meant to give Alex a check of Rp 200 million as collateral.

Alex said the check was rejected by Bank Mandiri when he tried to cash it, prompting him to report the case to police.

Andar told police he paid Rp 90 million to Alex last December.

"I was still collecting the rest of the money when Alex made the report," he told reporters while in police custody.

Monday, February 18, 2008

RELIGIOUS ARMOSPHERE


To remind civil servants to stick to the vision of the akhlakul kharimah to create a religious, responsible, honest and clean governance, Tangerang mayor Wahidin Halim told his staff to attend the Koran Reading activity held at the administration hall every Friday. Multa Fidrus

MISDEMEANOR TRIALS


The Tangerang municipal administration recently held trials at City Hall for 26 people who allegedly violated the moralistic regulations. The violators, most of them are women picked up from the streets for their prostitute-like appearance accept the charges and pay the fines. Multa Fidrus

CONTROVERSIAL BYLAWS

Tangerang still seeks moralistic society

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Ignoring intense criticism and threats of lawsuits, the Tangerang city administration continues to pursue its vision of a moralistic society through controversial regulations banning alcohol and prostitution.

The administration recently held trials at City Hall for 26 people who allegedly violated the moralistic regulations.

All of the defendants admitted before the panel of judges they had violated the regulations and accepted their punishments.

Dion Purnomo, one of the violators, received the harshest punishment. He was fined Rp 25 million after admitting to distributing alcoholic drinks.

"The punishment really shocked me. The fine was a huge sum of money and I will have to tell my boss because I can't pay it by myself," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Dion was arrested during an operation by the municipal public order agency near the Jakarta-Merak turnpike in Pinang district earlier this month. Officers seized 1,359 bottles of liquor from his herbal drink kiosk.

Agency head Achmad Lutfi said the bylaw banning alcohol was no "paper tiger" and the punishment would serve as a warning to anyone thinking of distributing or consuming alcohol in the city.

"The judges' decision shows the administration is serious about upholding the bylaws," he said.

In 2005, the municipal council endorsed a bylaw banning alcohol and another on prostitution.

The liquor bylaw bans the distribution and sale of alcoholic drinks, except in three, four and five-star hotels and designated restaurants for on-the-spot consumption.

Violators can face imprisonment for up to three months or a fine of up to Rp 50 million.

The bylaw on prostitution bans people, either in public places or locations visible to the public, from "enticing" others, either by words or signals, into acts of prostitution.

It also bans forms of public intimacy like hugging and kissing that are deemed to trigger "lust" in public places or places visible to the public such as hotels, restaurants or entertainment centers.

Violators of this bylaw can face up to three months in prison or a fine of Rp 15 million.

The regulations became a national issue after the administration tried 31 people charged with violating the two bylaws on Feb. 28, 2006.

Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim said his administration would continue enforcing the regulations, saying he was prepared to face any consequences, including lawsuits.

"The regulations are not of my own making, but merely the wish of the people, as represented by the municipal council," he said.

Muslim leaders in the municipality have praised Wahidin for his efforts to create a so-called moralistic society by sticking to the vision of akhlakul kharimah (religious, responsible and honest).

"We fully support the authorities for being forceful in their enforcement of the regulations because we believe that no religion allows the consumption of alcohol or prostitution," said Junaedi Nawawi, former chairman of the city's branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE




Tangerang's creeping shoreline

Not so long ago, the residents of four village on the north coast of Tangerang municipality lived off the bounty of the sea. But the same sea has taken away their shrimp breeding farms and their homes. One day, perhaps, it will claim entire neighborhoods. The municipality is exhausting its sand for construction. The shoreline has collapsed, creeping closer to houses. With no coastal barriers to bear the brunt of impacts from storms and erosion, concrete ruins are all that is left of people's homes. The residents' demands for action from the local administration to stop the sand mining and help them reclaim their land have apparently been lost in the wind. Multa Fidrus

ENVIRONMENT: Housing Developemnt Impacts

New housing developments blamed for rise in floods in Tangerang

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Hundreds of residents living near housing developments have blamed developers for floods, saying they neglected to conduct mandatory environmental impact studies before reclaiming land.

Several residents told The Jakarta Post they had submitted complaints to the nearby Alam Sutra housing complex for allegedly causing recent floods in surrounding areas, including Kunciran and Pondok Pakulonan subdistricts.

"Our subdistrict is always flooded -- every time heavy rains come. This never happened until the Alam Sutra housing complex reclaimed the land for Block 13 five months ago," said Brig. Gen. Bahir Alamsyah, a resident of Pondok Pakulonan, North Serpong district, on Friday.

The developers never discussed the environmental impact of the project with locals, even though every housing developer is required to do so before obtaining a permit to build or develop a complex, he said.

"As a large housing developer, Alam Sutra must consider the negative impacts on surrounding villages. As a result of their negligence, we are now experiencing the negative impacts," he said.

Two residents of Kunciran subdistrict, Martinus and Rusmin Nuryadin, said their neighborhood never flooded until Alam Sutra reclaimed the higher land south of their village.

"I have been living here for 20 years. I never saw floods before the new construction," he said.
Residents of both subdistricts have asked the developers to accelerate the ongoing construction of proper drainage, and to create an artificial lake to retain water on the complex as it promised the Tangerang regency administration and legislative council.

Bahir, Martinus and Rusmin said residents would also urge Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar, Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim and councilors to visit the area, to determine how best to resolve the problems.

In response to the complaints, a representative of the developer, Lisa, said in anticipation of floods, Alam Sutra had repaired the drainage in Pondok Pakulonan.

"So, complaints filed by Pakulonan residents have settled down," she said.

"Now, we are trying to find the best solution to settle the floods faced by residents of Kunciran."
However, she said, the floods in Kunciran subdistrict had nothing to do with the land reclamation in Block 13.

Previously, there were reports of residents of Poris Plawad subdistrict, Tangerang, protesting against the developers of the Taman Royal housing complex, saying they had caused floods in surrounding neighborhoods.

Friday, February 15, 2008

REGION : Ciputat Overpass

Overpass project draws local ire
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Ongoing construction of the Ciputat overpass has drawn complaints citing that work has strayed from initial plans, Tangerang councilors said Thursday.

"After conducting a survey to follow-up residents' complaints, we found that there have been several changes made to the physical work from the initial plan," councilor Al Mansur said.

He said the overpass was shorter than originally planned and did not include two access points underneath that would enable vehicles to pass or make U-turns.

"Since there is no access, no vehicles will be able to make U-turns or pass each other from Jl. Dewi Sartika to Jl. Aria Putra," he said.

He said the overpass was being built to overcome chronic traffic congestion around the area but oversights in the construction process would only create new traffic problems.

"I have received complaints from many residents. I will hold a dialog with the council and the administration so they can report this problem to the central government," he said.

Ciputat overpass is financed by the central government in cooperation with the Japanese Bank International Consortium (JBIC).

Mansur said it was still possible to make changes before August, when construction work is due to be finished.

"If no action is taken, the project will continue in its current state. Traffic jams will never be overcome and the project will be a waste of people's money," he added.

Tangerang regency administration spent Rp 125 billion from the 2004 budget and another Rp 25 billion from the 2005 budget on land clearance for the project, while the Rp 95 billion allocated for construction work is financed by the central government from JBIC's loan. (February, 15, 2008)

REGION : New Poll Commission

NGOs demand new poll commission
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

TANGERANG: The Alliance of Tangerang Municipal Societies (Almakta) and the Coalition of Tangerang Municipal Societies (Komat) have demanded the dismissal of the current poll commission members.

"We have asked the Central Elections Commission (KPU) to replace the remaining members of the poll body in Tangerang soon," Komat coordinator Edi Santoso said Thursday.

The commission currently only has three members after two others resigned following an internal conflict.

News reports said the conflict arose after commission chairman Adi Warman refused to use the Rp 16 billion budget allocated by the municipal administration for the August election.

"No way three people could organize the election... we want all of the current members replaced," Andre Saenun, an Almakta activist, added.

KPU member Endang Sulastri said the central commission would settle the problems at the local poll body after consulting with Tangerang authorities. -- JP (February 15, 2008)

SNAPSHOT : Real Function of River Bank


REAL FUNCTION: Two housewives sits while chatting at a park on the bank of the Cisadane river, which used to be occupied by restaurants and various food stalls. The river bank returns to its real function a year after Wahidin Halim elected Tangerang mayor late in 2003. The picture was taken in Grendeng subdistrict, Tangerang muncipality

SNAPSHOT : Swimming and Playing



SWIMMING AND PLAYING: Despite absence of swimming pool and playground, children can still enjoy their days by swimming while playing in an irrigation canal just about 200 meters away from the country's international gate. The picture was taken near the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Neglasari district, Tangerang municipality.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

HEALTH: Bird Flu Handling

Bird flu surveillance officers needed

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Tangerang administration said it lacks sufficient personnel to thoroughly monitor the regency in an effort to curb the spread of bird flu.

"Our team is not large enough to monitor the 12 districts in the regency that are the most susceptible to bird flu," Asmiati, the coordinator of the regency's Bird Flu Anticipation Team, said Wednesday.

She said the districts regarded as being more prone to bird flu outbreaks were Serpong, North Serpong, Pakuhaji, Sindang Jaya, Sepatan, East Sepatan, Sukamulya, Cisauk, Cisoka, Pamulang, Pondok Aren and Pasar Kemis.

She said the regency's agriculture and animal husbandry agency had only deployed eight officers to cull poultry thought to be infected with the virus in the regency, which is made up of 36 districts.

"It would be impossible for these officers to reach every district in the regency, so we need additional officers from the central government," she said.

She said ideally every district should have at least one officer working in the field.

The agency recently formed a working group to disseminate information about bird flu within the community.

"But many residents still believe raising chickens without regularly cleaning their cages is acceptable," Asmiati said, adding that eight chickens owned by a Pamulang resident died suddenly recently.

Public concern escalated again over the spread of bird flu in Tangerang following the deaths of two Tangerang residents last month. One of the victims died at Sulianto Saroso Hospital in North Jakarta, while the other died at Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta.

Since 2005, 16 Tangerang residents have been infected with bird flu, resulting in 14 deaths.

The country's current bird flu toll stands at 98 deaths from 120 reported cases of the virus.
Newly reelected Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar recently announced plans to establish a new bylaw further regulating the poultry industry in the regency.

However, due to the high number of backyard poultry farms in the area, many have argued that further regulating the industry would be a difficult task.

REGION: Regional Division

Councillors throw weight behind North Tangerang regency idea

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Several councilors have thrown their weight behind the idea of establishing a new regency in the northern part of Tangerang.

"We support the establishment of North Tangerang regency because it is the right time for the nine districts in the north to play a greater management role," the head of the Golkar Party faction in the Tangerang Council, Ozi Saerozi, said Wednesday.

The idea of setting up North Tangerang regency emerged in 2002 when a group of residents from the Mauk, Rajeg, Kemiri, Sepatan, Sepatan Timur, Sukadiri, Pakuhaji, Kosambi and Teluknaga districts decided the area had the potential to become a regency.

Ozi said the idea to establish the new regency came about at the same time as the idea to form South Tangerang municipality.

However, the idea of establishing South Tangerang municipality progressed faster, with the proposal currently being considered in the House of Representatives.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed the Home Ministry to discuss the proposal with House members in the near future.

Last Saturday a new committee focused on establishing North Tangerang regency was formed. The group was given the name the Establishment of an Autonomous North Tangerang Committee (Bakor PPKTU).

Head of the committee Haris Mansyur said members would first aim to collect signatures from members of the Village Representatives Body (BPD) and Village Community Empowerment Institute (LPM).

He said the signatures of those who supported the idea to form North Tangerang regency would be passed on to Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar.

"This is in accordance with the 2004 law on regional administration as well as a 2005 government regulation on procedures to be followed when establishing a new region," he said.

Harris said 16 councillors representing the nine districts to be included in the new regency agreed with the move as they felt they had been unfairly treated in the past by the administration.

When asked about the formation of the new regency, Ismet said he would not stand in the way of the idea.

"I welcome the idea and encourage these people to continue with their plan. I am prepared to help them conduct feasibility studies to determine whether or not the northern part of the regency can be independent," he said.

Ismet said in order to form a new autonomous region extensive studies needed to be conducted. The administration conducted studies on the formation of South Tangerang municipality, with the results enabling the idea to progress.

PEOPLE: Eka J Wahjoepramono



Helping the poor via a brain foundation

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Since the Indonesia Brain Foundation (YOI) was established early in 2000, it has helped finance surgical operations and treatment for more than 150 poor people with brain problems across the country.

Most of the patients who have recovered with the help of the foundation would probably not be enjoying the normal lives they do today if Eka Jullanta Wahjoepramono, chairman of the neuroscience center at the Siloam Gleneagles Hospital in Karawaci, Tangerang, had not taken the initiative to establish YOI.

"We established a neurosurgical science center here in 1996; many patients with brain problems come to the hospital for help but not all of them were able to pay the fees," he told The Jakarta Post in an interview recently.

He said that as a neurosurgeon, he could not reject poor patients who really needed help because most were still at productive stages in their lives and had bright futures.

Eka subsequently initiated a search for philanthropists who were willing to dip into their pockets so that he could save the patients. He had many meetings with businessmen such as Muchtar Riyadi of Lippo Group, Aburizal Bakrie (Bakrie Group) and Tahir (Mayapada Bank) to seek donations.

"They never refused financial assistance for surgical operations when I saw them but I didn't feel comfortable asking them for help each time," he said.

Eka then floated the concept of YOI; it received a warm welcome, getting the backing of the businessmen and the Siloam Gleneagles Hospital management.

In addition to helping to finance brain operations for the poor, Eka also hoped to provide education for people with brain injuries and to pay for brain research via the foundation.
"Indonesia has heart and cancer foundations that assist and educate people, but not one for brain-related issues," he said.

He said that a taxi driver he met overseas knew a lot about heart functions and problems because he had watched TV programs on the subject.

"I also want all Indonesians to have greater awareness of the brain and related problems. That's why I plan to educate the public via a special program in cooperation with Metro TV," he said, adding he had obtained sponsorship for the program.

Eka has also initiated research into senile dementia under the supervision of Hollywood Hospital Neuro Center in Perth, Australia, focusing on the clivus, the base bone of skull.

"We shall use 50 elderly patients as respondents throughout the country and the research will take two years," he said, adding that no one has answered satisfactorily why dementia and associated mental illnesses became more common with old age.

He said he was obsessed with the cyberknife, a tool that uses a laser beam to excise brain tumors completely. "We want it to be the last resort for patients with brain problems but the tool costs US$5 million and we cannot afford one; we're always worried about the remains of a tumor growing again in patients' brains," he said.

The problem facing YOI, said Eka, was that the surgical operation and treatment costs for a patient were frequently unpredictable, while the foundation had a limited budget.

"Once, YOI had only Rp 20 million to finance a neurosurgical operation for the wife of a newspaper vendor but the woman suffered from complications; the treatment cost skyrocketed to Rp 60 million," he said.

The cost of operations and treatment for poor patients ranges from Rp 5 million to Rp 140 million.

"Consequently, YOI is often in debt to the hospital since the foundation is yet to have regular donors," said Eka.

He has performed more than 2,800 neurosurgical operations with his team at Siolam since 1996, with a failure rate of only 2.8 percent, lower than the 7.8 percent in the U.S.

YOI offers total aid, partial aid and back-up aid to poor patients who desperately need operations to deal with benign tumors, vascular anomalies, congenital diseases with good prognoses, curable strokes, respectable tumors and curable brain lesions.

Total aid is given to patients from families that are unable to fulfill basic needs based on reliable recommendations, partial aid is given to those who have insufficient ability to finance their operation and treatment, and back up aid is given to those who have funds for the operation but have no back up funds for possible post-operative disease complications.

Born in Klaten Central Java in 1958, Eka entered the medical school of Diponegoro University, Semarang, Central Java, in 1977.

He graduated in 1983 and started his medical career as the head of public health center in Pendahara, Central Kalimantan, in 1984.

Two years later, he worked for the emergency unit at Pantiwilasa Hospital, Semarang, and then continued his studies at the medical school of Padjadjaran University, Bandung, West Java in 1989.

He then worked there as an assistant at the neurosurgery department until he was entrusted to lead the neurosurgery department at Serang general hospital, Banten, in 1995.

He became the consultant of the neurosurgery department at Siloam, Honoris and Usada Insani hospitals in Tangerang and Krakatau Steel hospital in Cilegon.

Eka, who attended postgraduate training in Germany, England, Hungary, Japan; as well as St. Louis University in the U.S. between 1991 and 2003, was appointed chairman of the neuroscience center at Siloam in 2000.

He was the fifth president of the Asian Conference of Neurological Surgeons (2001-2003), Asian Oceanic Skull Base Society; and Honorary sixth president of the Asian Conference of Neurosurgical Surgeon and Foreign Affairs, Indonesia Neurosurgical Society.

Besides the 54 papers and books dealing with neurosurgery he has published since 1991, he has also published four books on brain aneurysms, head injuries, strokes and emergency neurosurgery since 2004.

Married to Hanna Damar, a skin specialist, and father of three children, he spends an average of 16 hours a day at Siloam's neuroscience center, conducting at least two neurosurgical operations each day.

He said the situation between life and death for patients was the driving force for him and members of his team. The pressure is frequently increased by nonstop, 48-hour surgery in difficult operations.

"But we do this because we love our jobs and are concerned about life," he said.

When he has the opportunity, he relaxes in the small garden behind his home in Karawaci, where aquariums and ponds are stocked with fish.

PEOPLE: Wahidin Halim


A zealous mayor, sweeping all before him

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

When Wahidin Halim was elected Tangerang mayor in October 2003, no one could have predicted that he would go that extra mile to develop the municipality, create clean governance, uphold the law and clear liquor and prostitution from the city.

Despite facing intense criticism and the threat of lawsuits, the mayor, known as "WH" locally, continues to pursue his vision of a more moral society through controversial regulations that ban alcohol and prostitution.

"We shall go ahead and punish any violations," he said, adding that his administration was prepared to face the consequences that might result, including class-action lawsuits by disgruntled locals.

The regulations were not of his own making, but merely the wish of the people, as represented by the municipal council, he said.

The antiprostitution regulations became a national issue after the administration tried 31 people charged with violating them.

The misdemeanor trial was held in public at the city hall in conjunction with the celebration of the municipality's 13th anniversary on Feb. 28.

Lilis, 34, the pregnant wife of an elementary school teacher was caught, along with 26 other women, by public order officers enforcing the prostitution regulations, as she waited at the side of the road for a public minivan.

But the woman, who pleaded not guilty, was unable to prove to the court that she was not a prostitute. She could not show her identity card nor she could present her husband or members of her family to testify in her support during the trial.

Her "prostitute-like" appearance convinced judge Barmen Sinurat to dismiss her explanation and fine her Rp 300,000. She was held in custody because she could not pay the fine and was released three days later.

Commenting on the case, Wahidin said the regulation upholds the dignity of women; criticism must have been orchestrated by groups out to exploit women to satisfy their own vices.

Religious and community leaders have praised the mayor for his efforts and urged the authorities to be forceful in their enforcement of the regulations because they believed that no religion allows prostitution or the excessive consumption of alcohol.

The municipal council endorsed the regulations on Nov. 21, 2005. The liquor bylaw bans the distribution and sale of alcoholic drinks, except in three-, four- and five-star hotels and designated restaurants for on-the-spot consumption.

Violators can face imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to Rp 50 million. Article 4 in the bylaw on prostitution bans people, either in public places or locations visible to the public, from enticing others, either by words or signals, into acts of prostitution.

It also bans public intimacy, hugging and/or kissing that is deemed to trigger passion, either in public places or places visible to the public such as hotels, restaurants or entertainment centers. Violators may face up to three months in prison or a fine of Rp 15 million.

Since the regulations are capable of multiple interpretations, the administration has been preparing a draft containing instructions for its technical implementation.

Wahidin, a sibling of foreign affairs minister Hasan Wirayuda and the father of three from his marriage with Niniek Wahidin Halim, began to make significant changes across the municipality just 10 months after he became mayor.

Within three months, the public praised him for his assertiveness in returning roads, pavements and riverbanks to their proper use. He also named publicly nine industrial firms that were judged to be polluting the environment.

Five months later, Wahidin told all administration employees to wear Muslim garb every Friday, while non-Muslims could continue to wear civil servant uniforms as normal.

With the clothing requirement, Wahidin wants to remind his staff to stick to the vision of the akhlakul kharimah (religious, responsible and honest) leadership he initially committed himself to.

Wahidin is not the type of a leader who simply sits behind a desk in his office, barking orders at his staff. He often makes unannounced visits on foot, meeting and talking to local people, students, schoolteachers or traders at markets and listens to their complaints.

"Wahidin is a capable organizer, regulator and communicator; that's the reason why a leader like him is needed," movie director Garin Nugroho commented on the dust jacket of a book written by Wahidin, adding that an important element in leadership was the support that grows from the grass roots.

Wahidin, avoiding formality, always appears exactly as he is, treating all he meets as friends, and is always in good humor with a joke ready. None of his staff, journalists or whoever meets him feel uncomfortable in his presence because Wahidin always makes them laugh.

He is the first regional administration leader to have spent 42 percent of the administration's total budget in 2005, and 49 percent this year, on improving education.
"How can we create high-quality human resources if we ignore the educational infrastructure and other supporting facilities?" he said.

He made an agreement with private investors to obtain low-interest loans repaid under an installment scheme, with total investment reaching Rp 228 billion, to renovate 221 damaged schools last year.

To enable citizens to voice their aspirations, and to identify emerging problems, Wahidin has also initiated "SMS democracy" in cooperation with a local newspaper. It publishes daily information from the community sent via cell phone text messaging (SMS).

However, not all of Wahidin's policies have been accepted. His proposal to relocate all amusement centers in Karawaci was opposed, and he has postponed it for the time being. His plan to eliminate becak (pedicabs) from several main streets was also opposed by becak drivers.

Born in 1954 in Pinang village, which was formerly part of Cileduk district, Tangerang municipality, Wahidin has spent all of his life there. He declined to move to the mayors' official residence on Jl. Daan Mogot.

Walking barefoot every day to elementary school in Pinang and junior high school in Cileduk was his habit because his father, a schoolteacher, could not afford to buy a bicycle for the young Wahidin.

He finally got a bike after he started senior high school in Tangerang, continuing his studies at the University of Indonesia. After graduation, Wahidin was elected the first village head with a university diploma, in 1978.

The young Wahidin married soon after he was became a civil servant in 1979. In the early 1980s, he was promoted to the position of district administration chief at Ciputat (twice) and Tigaraksa.

By late 2002, he became Tangerang municipal administration secretary and a year later was elected mayor.

Wahidin has acquired much organizational experience as chairman of many community groups. As manager of Tangerang regency's Persita and Tangerang municipality's Persikota football teams, he has placed a priority on education.

He established the Nurani Kami Foundation, which regularly gives scholarships to 150 poor school and university students each year.

A gubernatorial seat now awaits Wahidin; he has promised to announce his willingness to be nominated as a candidate by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in June, in order to compete in the Banten gubernatorial election in November. (April 29, 2006)

ENVIRONMENT: Illegal Sand Quarrying



Sand quarrying raises tempers, damages
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Simpang Kampong, a small coastal village in Mauk district in the north of Tangerang regency, has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of sand.

Covering a few hectares, dozens of people, every day, illegally quarry sand there. These people, who work in groups of five to 10, come from neighboring villages such as Marga Mulya, Ketapang, Tanjung Anom and Karang Serang.

The quarriers, who dig up to 10 meters into the ground and create deep holes as large as a football pitch, seem to be unconcerned about the possibility of a landslide burying them alive.

Making a quick profit is the only thing on their mind. They don't care at all, even though they realize that their activity has damaged the environment and disrupted irrigation for farmers.

"It's too dangerous for you to enter the quarry. Workers will attack any journalist who tries to enter and take pictures," Sarmili, a local, told The Jakarta Post recently.

The Post observed several small channels on the floor of the large hole, where workers move sand with the help of a powerful water jet. A motor blows the sand from the dredging site onto the ground where dozens of workers and trucks await.

Quarrying, Sarmili says, has resulted in the erosion of more than 10,000 cubic meters of land in the village, on which rice was formerly grown.

"We have repeatedly filed complaints with the district office over the dredging, but it's all to no avail because local officials are bribed to look the other way by the operation's owner," he said.

Hundreds of residents from Tegal Kunir Lor, Banyuasin, Ketapang, Marga Mulya villages and Kampong Simpang have repeatedly protested the operation because it has disrupted irrigation in the past three years.

The villagers' main source of income is agriculture. When their protests were ignored, angry residents attacked workers at the mine, which is owned by Jakarta-based businessman Herman Wijaya.

They set fire to the workers' dormitory and destroyed pipelines and machines in April 2004. The police then arrested six local residents following a brawl with workers during the assault.

They were charged with inciting villagers to attack the mine workers and destroy on-site facilities, although two villagers were attacked by the workers and were rushed to hospital with machete wounds.

Sukwadi, from Marga Mulya, said that the sand dredging operation had also changed the ecosystem and disrupted ground water supply in the village since it began in 2000.

"The miners have violated Bylaw No. 20/2004 on public order and security. But they have continued their operations, despite forcible closure by the administration," he said.

Tangerang regent Ismet Iskandar issued written orders to the public order agency to close down unlawful sand quarries in Cisauk, Curug, Legok and Kresek districts, but business is still as usual at present.

"This is a matter of basic survival; we need money to feed our families," quarry workers replied angrily when the Post asked them why they continued.

One of them, Usman, 28, is from Ketapang village. He began digging for sand in 2001. Before that he was a fisherman, but fuel price increases caused him to shift to sand quarrying to keep body and soul together.

"If the Tangerang regental administration bans quarrying and closes the site here we won't have any source of income. We make only Rp 15,000 to Rp 20,000 a day -- just enough to buy three kilograms of rice," he said.

Work at the site usually runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. The sand is sold to a middleman for Rp 50,000 for a small truckload and Rp 150,000 per medium-sized load. Each person working at the site earns an average of Rp 20,000 a day.

The middleman then sells the sand to another middleman for Rp 75,000 to Rp 125,000 per small load and Rp 175,000 to Rp 250,000 per medium truckload.

"I sell the sand at Rp 75,000 per cubic meter. Sometimes I can sell four truckloads a day. Recently, demand has been quite low. I hire five men to carry the sand. Each is paid Rp 10,000 a day," said Samrah, 45, a middleman.

It is clear that the quarrying has damaged the environment. This could also lead to devastating landslides, particularly for those living in neighboring villages.

It is feared that if the operation continues, farmers living near the area will suffer from water shortages and many wells used by locals will dry up.

Environmental damage caused by quarrying is a hot topic of debate at plenary meetings of the Tangerang regental legislative council. The council tends to blame the administration for being too soft in dealing with the quarrying problem.

However, the administration argues that it cannot do much because the people involved in quarrying are poor and are simply trying to survive.

Head of the regental public order agency Odang Masduki has his own explanation as to why nothing is being done to put a halt to the illegal activity across the regency.

"We closed the site six times between 2004 and this year. We erected a gate at the entrance but the quarrying continues apace. We are powerless against hundreds, possibly thousands, of illegal quarriers. It all depends on the land," he said.

It seems that the local administration has yet to find a way to address the problem of environmental damage in its area. Instead, it is too busy blaming others. (September 12, 2006)

ENVIRONMENT: Garbage Composting in BSD


Garbage can be lucrative if handled properly
Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Although it is unsightly and smelly, garbage is not without its uses. Indeed, it can be a source of money and even help to conserve the environment as long as there is proper awareness and the goodwill to handle it properly.

Take the efforts of PT Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD), a major developer that manages the largest housing complex in Serpong, Tangerang regency.

The company has not merely built luxury homes and developed one-third of the 6,000 hectares it has acquired into a commercial area; it has also paid attention to long-term solutions for the handling of domestic waste, which can have serious health and safety implications.

BSD sees integrated waste treatment as the solution, a combination of recycling, composting, incineration and sanitary landfill: Waste collected from the source is separated and treated on site, while the remaining waste goes into a sanitary landfill.

Methane gas generation, which would normally make a normal landfill unsafe as a building site, can be put to use as an alternative energy source. The remaining residue from recycling and composting, meantime, can be burned in two huge incinerators.

The landfill has layers of sand to keep disease-carrying insects away, and pipes to carry away water, along with methane gas given off by the breakdown of solid waste.

Using a simple mantra -- reduce, reuse and recycle -- BSD now produces an average 1.5 tons of organic fertilizer per day from garbage it collects from homes.

BSD built a Rp 5 billion integrated waste treatment facility on a three-hectare plot on Jl. Raya Cisauk in 1992. Two huge incinerators that it operates can process 10 cubic meters of rubbish at once.

"As of today, the organic fertilizer we produce here is still for BSD's use only," Steve Mawengkang, head of PT BSD Asset Maintenance and Corporation told The Jakarta Post recently.

He said the market price of the fertilizer ranged from Rp 700 to Rp 1,000 per kilogram but it was actually sold at only Rp 400 per kilogram since the buyer is a BSD partner company that manages all existing parks in the complex.

"With this facility in operation, we expect zero growth for garbage. But the obstacle we face is that we cannot afford to operate the incinerators since fuel prices increased late last year," he said.

He added that BSD city, with a population of over 100,000 people, produces at least 150 cubic meters of garbage per day, 50 percent of which could be transformed into organic fertilizer.
"Twenty percent of the production is picked up by scavengers for recycling and the rest is burned in incinerators," he said.

Budi Setiawan, head of the integrated waste treatment operation, said the operational cost of the facility was up to Rp 45 million per month while the monthly revenue from the sale of organic fertilizer was not more than Rp 18 million.

"It means that BSD still has to provide support by as much as Rp 27 million for the operation of the facility each month," he said, adding that the composting process can take a month.

The Post observed that soon after BSD dump trucks unloaded trash, several workers assisted by eight scavengers separated organic and nonorganic trash before it was put onto a rototiller modified to shred trash.

The already processed organic waste was then piled up on the floor, forming several mounds in a large warehouse for month-long fermentation. The next stage is to mix it in a semi-microbioactivator, which shreds and converts the fermented waste into useful material.

Budi said the organic fertilizer had been tried out at all parks in the complex and it was proven that many types of plant, tree and flower could become fertile.

Dhony Rahajoe, head of urban infrastructure at Indonesian Real Estate (REI) said it was hoped that BSD's integrated waste treatment installation would develop into one of the main organic fertilizer producers in Tangerang.

He said that, currently, the garbage handling system, as applied across the country, merely shifted problems from one place to another, with no thought of saving the environment.

"We have to change our approach to embrace recycling, not just collection and dumping. If BSD had not taken the initiative to build such a vital facility, garbage problems like those faced by Bandung municipality and Jakarta would also have occurred here," he said.

Tangerang regency's 3.4 million people produce at least 6,290 cubic meters of household garbage per day, but only 3,080 cubic meters can be transported to a final dumpsite.

Dhony said garbage was a problem that all cities across the country have to deal with and the root cause of the problem was the different perceptions on garbage of the government, businesspeople and community.

"Recycling schemes at the neighborhood level are needed to reduce the volume of rubbish produced by residents, but there was still little support available," he said.

Most communities still wonder why they have to spend money on garbage treatment. The government, on the other hand, has yet to think of environmental protection costs and most businesspeople do not care about garbage problems.

There seems to be a definite lack of political will from local governments to operate recycling and composting schemes. (September 26, 2006)

ENVIRONMENT: Taman Kota BSD


Creating more parks brings BSD back to nature

Multa Fidrus
The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The back-to-nature trend seems to have started to take root in the Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) satellite city in Serpong, Tangerang.

It is not only a trend that goes along with the cosmopolitan lifestyle in big cities around the world but a philosophy that has made its way into complex residents' daily lives with affirmative action of the housing complex management.

A worsening urban environment, increasingly frustrating traffic jams and the pressure from heavy workloads at office and school have caused many city residents to suffer from depression, stress and a variety of physical and mental ailments amid the soaring costs of medical treatment.

PT BSD, a major housing and property developer in Greater Jakarta, is aware of this and has managed to integrate dwellings with greenery and gardens.

"Bringing comfort to mind and body to metropolitan city residents, who mostly living in a worsening urban environment is not easy and nor is it without cost," PT BSD corporate communication general manager Dhony Rahajoe told The Jakarta Post recently.

He said that a healthy home means healthy occupants; and a healthy environment means healthy residents.

"In the present economic crisis, residents need environmentally friendly cost-efficient ways to create a healthy lifestyle. That's the reason why we earmarked 10 hectares of land for city parks," Dhony said.

There are two large parks in the satellite city.

City Park I was built in 1992 on three hectares of land near the Puspitaloka and Giriloka clusters, right in the heart of the complex. City Park II, which covers seven hectares of land near the BSD Techno Park, was completed in June and was opened to the public by the State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar.

Trees and plants throughout the parks will provide fresh air for the satellite city, which functions as a healing balm amid unhealthy modern life not only for the complex residents but also visitors from outside the complex.

"The shady leaves of various plants in the parks bring cheerfulness, provide mental therapy and evoke beautiful memories for families and couples spending time in the parks," Dhony said.

With adequate parking space, playgrounds for children to play, jogging tracks, benches and toilets, many complex families and couples have a regular schedule to visit to the parks in the morning, afternoon or on holidays.

"More than 80,000 trees are growing in the parks. Building the parks is an inseparable part of the city's development program. We hope to see the BSD develop into a dynamic and environmentally friendly satellite city," he said.

He said the recent natural disasters in several regions had served to remind people about the need for conservation efforts.

More than 15,000 residents calling themselves "Tree Lover Families" took part in planting trees around their houses through an annual event themed: Make the earth green, the sky blue; and protect the water.

Rachmat Witoelar praised the much-needed greening program in the housing complex. "I have visited housing complexes in many big cities across the country but only BSD has designated green areas for the sake of residents' health," said the minister in a recent visit to the city.

Banten acting governor Ratu Atut Choisiah, who planted a tree in Park II with the minister, applauded BSD's efforts to protect the environment. "I hope that all housing complex developers across the province follow BSD's example," she said.

Rachmat said developers should not use properties solely for commercial purposes.
Calls for greenery efforts stem from concerns that the rapid pace of development and the increasing spread of residential areas have taken their toll on the land in Tangerang.

Paddy fields and orchards have given way to shopping plazas and industrial buildings. Lakes and swampland have been turned into housing estates and office compounds.

"We hope that BSD management will leave the parks undisturbed and the local administration will protect them as a catchment area for the city," Sutisna, a BSD resident and a regular visitor to the park told the Post.

Lestari said that everyone must take good care of the parks by keeping waste and garbage out.
"Creating city parks is the only way to restore the natural condition amid unhealthy modern living and all parties have to support the annual tree cultivating program organized by the developer," she said.

The parks can function as a nature laboratory that provides sources of biodiversity; city lungs that absorb carbondioxide and produce oxygen; and a catchment area that protects soil fertility.
Besides providing people with recreational and sporting facilities, the parks can also be used for scientific research and education. (November 21, 2006)
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Keladi Tikus Obat Kanker

Keladi Tikus Obat Kanker

Kanker Bukan Lagi Ancaman

Penyakit kanker sudah tidak lagi jadi ancaman yang mematikan bagi kehidupan manusia sebaba para penderita kanker kini memiliki harapan hidup yang lebih lama dengan ditemukannya tanaman “Keladio Tikus” (Typhonium Flagelliforme/ Rodent Tuber) sebagai tanaman obat yang dapat menghentikan dan mengobati berbagai penyakit kanker dan berbagai penyakit berat lainnya.

Tanaman sejenis talas dengan tinggi maksimal 25 sampai 30 cm ini hanya tumbuh di semak yang tidak terkena sinar matahari langsung. “Tanaman ini sangat banyak ditemukan di Pulau Jawa,” kata Patoppoi Pasau, orang pertama yang menemukan tanaman itu di Indonesia.

Tanaman obat ini telah diteliti sejak tahun 1995 oleh Prof Chris Teo K.H, yang juga pendiri Cancer Care Penang dari Universiti Sains Malaysia. Lembaga perawatan kanker yang didirikan tahun 1995 itu telah membantu ribuan pasien dari Malaysia, Amerika, Inggris, Australia, Selandia Baru, Singapura, dan berbagai negara di dunia.

Di Indonesia, tanaman ini pertama ditemukan oleh Patoppoi di Pekalongan, Jawa Tengah. Ketika itu, istri Patoppoi mengidap kanker payudara stadium III dan harus dioperasi 14 Januari 1998. Setelah kanker ganas tersebut diangkat melalui operasi, istri Patoppoi harus menjalani kemoterapi (suntikan kimia untuk membunuh sel, Red) untuk menghentikan penyebaran sel-sel kanker tersebut.

“Sebelum menjalani kemoterapi, dokter mengatakan agar kami menyiapkan wig (rambut palsu) karena kemoterapi akan mengakibatkan kerontokan rambut, selain kerusakan kulit dan hilangnya nafsu makan,” jelas Patoppoi.
Selama mendampingi istrinya menjalani kemoterapi, Patoppoi terus berusaha mencari pengobatan alternatif sampai akhirnya dia mendapatkan informasi mengenai penggunaan teh Lin Qi di Malaysia untuk mengobati kanker.

“Saat itu juga saya langsung terbang ke Malaysiauntuk membeli teh tersebut,”ujar Patoppoi yang juga ahli biologi.

Ketika sedang berada di sebuah toko obat di Malaysia , secara tidak sengaja dia melihat dan membaca buku mengenai pengobatan kanker yang berjudul Cancer, Yet They Live karangan Dr Chris K.H. Teo terbitan 1996.

“Setelah saya baca sekilas, langsung saja saya beli buku tersebut. Begitu menemukan buku itu, saya malah tidak jadi membeli teh Lin Qi, tapi langsung pulang ke Indonesia ,” kenang Patoppoi sambil tersenyum.

Di buku itulah Patoppoi membaca khasiat typhonium flagelliforme itu. Berdasarkan pengetahuannya di bidang biologi, pensiunan pejabat Departemen Pertanian ini langsung menyelidiki dan mencari tanaman tersebut. Setelah menghubungi beberapa koleganya di berbagai tempat, familinya di Pekalongan Jawa Tengah, balas menghubunginya.

Ternyata, mereka menemukan tanaman itu di sana. Setelah mendapatkan tanaman tersebut dan mempelajarinya lagi, Patoppoi menghubungi Dr. Teo di Malaysia untuk menanyakan kebenaran tanaman yang ditemukannya itu.

Selang beberapa hari, Dr Teo menghubungi Patoppoi dan menjelaskan bahwa tanaman tersebut memang benar Rodent Tuber. “Dr Teo mengatakan agar tidak ragu lagi untuk menggunakannya sebagai obat,” lanjut Patoppoi.

Akhirnya, dengan tekad bulat dan do’a untuk kesembuhan, Patoppoi mulai memproses tanaman tersebut sesuai dengan langkah-langkah pada buku tersebut untuk diminum sebagai obat.

Kemudian Patoppoi menghubungi putranya, Boni Patoppoi di Buduran, Sidoarjo untuk ikut mencarikan tanaman tersebut. “Setelah melihat ciri-ciri tanaman tersebut, saya mulai mencari di pinggir sungai depan rumah dan langsung saya dapatkan tanaman tersebut tumbuh liar di pinggir sungai,” kata Boni yang mendampingi ayahnya saat itu.

Selama mengkonsumsi sari tanaman tersebut, isteri Patoppoi mengalami penurunan efek samping kemoterapi yang dijalaninya. Rambutnya berhenti rontok, kulitnya tidak rusak dan mual-mual hilang. “Bahkan nafsu makan ibu saya pun kembali normal,” lanjut Boni.

Setelah tiga bulan meminum obat tersebut, isteri Patoppoi menjalani pemeriksaan kankernya. “Hasil pemeriksaan negatif, dan itu sungguh mengejutkan kami dan dokter-dokter di Jakarta ,” kata Patoppoi.

Para dokter itu kemudian menanyakan kepada Patoppoi, apa yang diberikan pada isterinya. “Malah mereka ragu, apakah mereka telah salah memberikan dosis kemoterapi kepada kami,” lanjut Patoppoi.

Setelah diterangkan mengenai kisah tanaman Rodent Tuber, para dokter pun mendukung Pengobatan tersebut dan menyarankan agar mengembangkannya. Apalagi melihat keadaan isterinya yang tidak mengalami efek samping kemoterapi yang sangat keras tersebut. Dan pemeriksaan yang seharusnya tiga bulan sekali diundur menjadi enam bulan sekali.

”Tetapi karena sesuatu hal, para dokter tersebut tidak mau mendukung secara terang-terangan penggunaan tanaman sebagai pengobatan alternatif,” sambung Boni sambil tertawa.

Setelah beberapa lama tidak berhubungan, berdasarkan peningkatan keadaan isterinya, pada bulan April 1998, Patoppoi kemudian menghubungi Dr.Teo melalui fax untuk menginformasik an bahwa tanaman tersebut banyak terdapat di Jawa dan mengajak Dr. Teo untuk menyebarkan penggunaan tanaman ini di Indonesia .

Kemudian Dr . Teo langsung membalas fax kami, tetapi mereka tidak tahu apa yang harus mereka perbuat, karena jarak yang jauh,” sambung Patoppoi. Meskipun Patoppoi mengusulkan agar buku mereka diterjemahkan dalam bahasa Indonesia dan disebar-luaskan di Indonesia.

Dr. Teo menganjurkan agar kedua belah pihak bekerja sama dan berkonsentrasi dalam usaha nyata membantu penderita kanker di Indonesia. Kemudian, pada akhir Januari 2000 saat Jawa Pos mengulas habis mengenai meninggalnya Wing Wiryanto, salah satu wartawan handal Jawa Pos, Patoppoi sempat tercengang.

Data-data rinci mengenai gejala, penderitaan, pengobatan yang diulas di Jawa Pos, ternyata sama dengan salah satu pengalaman pengobatan penderita kanker usus yang dijelaskan di buku tersebut.

Dan eksperimen pengobatan tersebut berhasil menyembuhkan pasien tersebut. “Lalu saya langsung menulis di kolom Pembaca Menulis di Jawa Pos,” ujar Boni. Dan tanggapan yang diterimanya benar-benar diluar dugaan. Dalam sehari, bisa sekitar 30 telepon yang masuk. “Sampai saat ini, sudah ada sekitar 300 orang yang datang ke sini,” lanjut Boni yang beralamat di Jl. KH. Khamdani, Buduran Sidoarjo.

Pasien pertama yang berhasil adalah penderita Kanker Mulut Rahim stadium dini. Setelah diperiksa, dokter mengatakan harus dioperasi. Tetapi karena belum memiliki biaya dan sambil menunggu rumahnya laku dijual untuk biaya operasi, mereka datang setelah membaca Jawa Pos.

Setelah diberi tanaman dan cara meminumnya, tidak lama kemudian pasien tersebut datang lagi dan melaporkan bahwa dia tidak perlu dioperasi, karena hasil pemeriksaan mengatakan negatif.
Berdasarkan animo masyarakat sekitar yang sangat tinggi, Patoppoi berusaha untuk menemui Dr. Teo secara langsung. Atas bantuan Direktur Jenderal Pengawasan Obat dan Makanan Departemen Kesehatan, Sampurno, Patoppoi dapat menemui Dr. Teo di Penang. Di kantor Pusat Cancer Care Penang, Malaysia , Patoppoi mendapat penerangan lebih lanjut mengenai riset tanaman yang saat ditemukan memiliki nama Indonesia .

Ternyata saat Patoppoi mendapat buku “Cancer, Yet They Live” edisi revisi tahun 1999, fax yang dikirimnya di masukkan dalam buku tersebut, serta pengalaman isterinya dalam usahanya berperang melawan kanker. Dari pembicaraan mereka, Dr. Teo merekomendasi agar Patoppoi mendirikan perwakilan Cancer Care di Jakarta dan Surabaya.

Maka secara resmi, Patoppoi dan putranya diangkat sebagai perwakilan lembaga sosial Cancer Care Indonesia , yang juga disebutkan dalam buletin bulanan Cancer Care, yaitu di Jl. Kayu Putih 4 No. 5, Jakarta , telp. 021-4894745, dan di Buduran, Sidoarjo.

Cancer Care Malaysia telah mengembangkan bentuk pengobatan tersebut secara lebih canggih. Mereka telah memproduksi ekstrak Keladi Tikus dalam bentuk pil dan teh bubuk yang dikombinasikan dengan berbagai tananaman lainnya dengan dosis tertentu. Sumber (Milis Alumni Smandel)

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