Batam councillors get new cars<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam<\/p>\n
A number of non-governmental organizations have condemned the
\nprovision of luxury cars by the Batam administration to 26
\nmembers of the city legislative council, saying both the city
\nadministration and the legislature did not have a sense of
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
Batam Corruption Watch called on the government audit agency
\n(BPKP) to audit the provincial administration and the home
\nministry to look into any possible irregularities behind the
\nprovision of the cars.<\/p>\n
\"It is quite unfair and ironic that councillors drive in
\nluxury while a great majority of the locals are still living in
\nshanties on the island. If the councillors have any solidarity
\nwith the poor, they could use more modest cars and allocate the
\nremaining funds from the car budget to help build low-cost houses
\nfor people of low income,\" Samsul Paloh, coordinator of Batam
\nCorruption Watch, told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The 26 Toyota Altys purchased at the total price of Rp 3.5
\nbillion from the city's 2002 budget were handed over to all
\ncouncillors last Thursday.<\/p>\n
The cars cost Rp 150 million each on the import tax-free
\nisland.<\/p>\n
Dipanusa Riung, coordinator of Regional Autonomy Watch, said
\nthe cars' provision was linked with the hoarding of generic drugs
\nat the local health office' storehouse revealed by the
\nlegislative council recently.<\/p>\n
\"The provision of luxury cars is full of political nuances
\ncreating confusion for the public. We are still investigating the
\ncase,\" said Dipanusa,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sabar Malau, chairman of the Student Executive Body (BEM) of
\nthe International University in the city, regretted the cars'
\nprovision, saying the students would closely monitor the mayor's
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
Reliable sources said that the provision of cars was linked to
\nthe legislature's silence over the alleged rife corruption in the
\ncity administration, including the recent construction of the
\nlegislative council building.<\/p>\n
Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir denied any wrongdoing, saying: \"The
\nprovision of official cars for the councillors is included in the
\n2002 budget and the public should not speculate over it because
\nthere is no nothing wrong with it.\"<\/p>\n
Ibnu Hajar Sahonang, a member of the legislature's Commission
\nA on economic and development affairs, said all councillors with
\nthe exception of the speaker and deputy speakers had been in need
\nof official cars to help improve their performance.<\/p>\n
\"The legislators are accountable because they were purchased
\nwith public funds,\" he said.<\/p>",
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