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Medan Village Chief Apologizes After Mocking Resident's Complaint Goes Viral
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Medan Village Chief Apologizes After Mocking Resident's Complaint Goes Viral

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The village chief of Paya Pasir in Medan, North Sumatra, Syerly, has apologized after a video of her mocking a resident's complaint went viral.
  • The resident had approached the mayor about the lack of public street lighting, stating she personally funded four lamps due to safety concerns.
  • Syerly's apology came after being summoned by the Medan City Inspectorate, with the mayor stating the outcome depends on the ongoing investigation.

A village chief in Medan, North Sumatra, has issued an apology after a video surfaced showing her mocking a resident's concerns about public street lighting.

I apologize to the public because it was purely my spontaneity. Because I felt close and familiar and often joked with Mrs. Ulfa, and vice versa, Mrs. Ulfa did the same with me, so it just slipped out.

— SyerlyExplaining her reaction to the resident's complaint.

Syerly, the village chief of Paya Pasir, was recorded laughing and saying "Oh, complaining now, are we?" when a resident, identified as Mrs. Ulfa, spoke to the mayor about the inadequate street lighting in her area. Ulfa explained that she had personally spent her own money to install four lamps due to fears of crime.

Syerly claimed her reaction was spontaneous and stemmed from her close, informal relationship with Ulfa. She stated that their interactions often involved joking and that her comment was not intended to mock the resident. Syerly also mentioned that her office had reported the need for streetlights to the relevant department last year.

Oh, complaining now, are we?

— SyerlyHer response captured on video when a resident voiced concerns about street lighting.

The incident gained significant traction on social media, with many netizens calling for Syerly's dismissal. The mayor of Medan, Bobby Nasution, confirmed that Syerly had been summoned by the city inspectorate for questioning. He indicated that any decision regarding her position would be based on the findings of the ongoing internal investigation.

It's still in process with the Inspectorate and we await the process.

— Bobby NasutionRegarding the investigation into the village chief's conduct.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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