Aceh in urgent need of helicopter<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Banda Aceh city administration pledged financial assistance
\nfor the Aceh provincial government to purchase a helicopter,
\nwhich it is claimed is badly needed to help make the
\nadministration in the restive province effective.<\/p>\n
\"We will ask for approval from the city legislative assembly
\nfor the allocation of around Rp 700 million for the provincial
\nadministration's planned purchase of a chopper,\" Banda Aceh Mayor
\nZulkarnain said at a hearing with the assembly on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The mayor said the helicopter was urgently needed due to
\ninstability and the frequent natural disasters in remote areas in
\nthe province.<\/p>\n
\"With a helicopter, officials both from the executive and the
\nassembly could make immediate visits to any areas which are
\nstruck by natural disasters or conflicts,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Around Rp 10 billion is needed to purchase the helicopter and
\nto cover its crew's salaries and maintenance costs.<\/p>\n
Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh has been planning to purchase the
\nhelicopter since last July with financial assistance from the
\ncity administration and the Aceh Regional Development Bank.<\/p>\n
The provincial government's plan has sparked sharp criticism
\nfrom local non-governmental organizations and informal leaders,
\nwho consider it a waste of money.<\/p>\n
In other developments, a caucus of 21 legislators from various
\nparties called on Tengku Muhammad Yunus, speaker of the
\nprovincial legislative assembly, to step down because of a number
\nof alleged violations that he has committed over the last two
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\"It is better for Yus to step down voluntarily before a
\nplenary session is held to discuss the no-confidence motion
\nsubmitted to the legislature on Nov. 17, 2001,\" Antara quoted the
\nspokesman for the caucus, Nasir Jamil, as saying at a press
\nconference in Banda Aceh on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The legislators' move has gained the support of various sides,
\nincluding a number of factions in the legislature, non-
\ngovernmental organizations and informal leaders, as the speaker
\nwas believed to have frequently used the legislature's budget in
\nan opaque manner.<\/p>\n
\"The no-confidence motion has gained the full support of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and
\nNational Mandate Party factions, and a part of the United
\nDevelopment Party and alliance factions,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-in-urgent-need-of-helicopter-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}