Activist opposes official houses<\/p>\n
Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda, East Kalimantan<\/p>\n
A local non-governmental organization activist lashed out on
\nMonday at the East Kalimantan provincial government for
\nallocating a budget to build houses for council officials that
\nfar exceeds the market price.<\/p>\n
The normal price for a luxury house in Samarinda is Rp 350
\n(US$41,176) to Rp 500 million, but in the 2004 budget, the
\ngovernment has earmarked Rp 7.6 billion (US$894,117) for the
\nconstruction of four houses for the leaders of the provincial
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
Therefore each house will be built with a working capital of
\nRp 1.9 billion.<\/p>\n
"This is insane. If the plan materializes, we are afraid that
\nthere will be a mark up in the construction of the houses," said
\nAchmad Bashori, the executive director of Concern for State
\nAssets (PKN).<\/p>\n
The four houses will be the official residences for the
\nspeaker of the provincial council and the three deputies.<\/p>\n
Bashori demanded that the government revise the budget. The
\nEast Kalimantan provincial budget this year stands at Rp 2.77
\ntrillion.<\/p>\n
The provincial government has handed over the draft of the
\n2004 budget to the East Kalimantan provincial council, and the
\ncouncil is expected to approve it in the near future.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Kasyful Anwar, the coordinator for the budget
\ncommittee at the East Kalimantan Legislative Council,
\nacknowledged that the government had proposed a budget of Rp 7.6
\nbillion for the construction of the four houses.<\/p>\n
"But, it does not mean that the council will approve it. We
\nare still discussing it," he said.<\/p>\n
If the proposal is approved by the provincial council, the
\nhouses will be built by East Kalimantan Public Works office.<\/p>",
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