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Everybody affected by infrastructure woes
The Jakarta Post , Balikpapan | Fri, 05/30/2008 4:34 PM | The Archipelago
Infrastructure problems in East Kalimantan affect not only low and middle-income earners but, on occasion, the wealthy and high-ranking as well.
Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri saw the electricity cut while delivering a speech in May to campaign for candidates in the province's gubernatorial election. The speech was held during lunch at the residence of Balikpapan Mayor Imdaad Hamid.
Megawati could only stand at the podium without a word for nearly five minutes before the electricity was on again thanks to a generator.
"It's a bit strange, a blackout hitting the residence of an official," one of the journalists shouted.
Noted figure of the Tana Tidung Dayak tribe Angan Gani said Wednesday that not only the electricity network but also the damaged roads had to be repaired. Poor roads have severely affected people, especially those living in the northern parts of the province, he said.
"I just passed by a part of the trans-Kalimantan highway between Tana Tidung and Bulungan regencies two days ago," Angan said.
In a section at Ting Ting village in Tanjung Palas district, the road has changed into a crater with a depth of two meters and a width of three meters. "During the rainy season the road changes into a kind of pond," Angan said.
"I hope the new governor of East Kalimantan will be willing to pay attention to this problem. There are many other sections of the road like the one between Wahau and Berau which are also in poor condition," Angan added.
