Bekasi says officials can receive parcels

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 10/10/2007 3:57 PM  |  Jakarta

BEKASI: The Bekasi administration says it will allow officials to send and receive Idul Fitri gift parcels, though it suggests the officials donate any gifts to low-income residents, Antara reported Tuesday.

""There's no regulation saying that they can't send or receive gift parcels. They can do it as long as it doesn't interfere with the policies they're drafting,"" Bekasi administration spokesman Endang Suharyadi said Tuesday.

He said the sending and receiving of gift parcels would only be banned if it became a tool in corruption, collusion and nepotism.

However, he said that to avoid any suspicion officials would be advised to donate any gift parcels to low-income residents or orphans.

""They need the parcels more than the officials do,"" he told Antara.

Endang said there were several orphanages in Bekasi caring for thousands of children and they required assistance from the more fortunate.

Sending and receiving gift parcels is a tradition during Idul Fitri. Parcels usually contain a selection of foods or gifts like tea sets. -- JP

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