PLN to shut down electricity in Sukarno’s house

Bengkulu electricity company (PLN) will shut down electricity at the house of Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno, which is listed as a heritage building, as the city administration has failed to pay the electricity bill.

Souvenir vendor in the house, Lusi, said Wednesday that the Rp 600,000 (US$63) unpaid bill was accrued from electricity bills over the last three months. She said that the PLN had sent three warning letters to the house’s management.

Yaman, the house caretaker, said as quoted by kompas.com that he had tried to call the city administration to no avail. He said that a similar incident occurred in 2008.

The house maintenance bills officially go to Jambi Prehistoric Legacy Conservation Center (BP3). Yet, the Bengkulu administration usually contributes to the electricity payment.

Sukarno lived in the house from 1938 to 1942, as he was exiled from Java. He met first lady Fatmawati, who was born in Bengkulu, during his exile and married her in 1943. (cor)