City budget approved despite PDI-P walkout<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the walkout of 19 councilors from the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction,
\nthe City Council approved on Saturday the Rp 7.49 trillion
\n(US$788.42 million) city budget proposal for 2001.<\/p>\n
The decision was accepted by members from seven factions,
\nwhile two others -- the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the
\nJustice Party (PK) -- said they agreed but under certain
\ncircumstances.<\/p>\n
Of the 30-strong PDI Perjuangan faction, only 19 attended the
\nplenary session, and unfortunately walked out of the meeting.
\nThey all refused to sign the absentee list.<\/p>\n
After the plenary was declared open, PDI Perjuangan
\nrepresentative Binsar Tambunan and faction chairman Audi I.Z.
\nTambunan, said their faction demanded that the meeting be
\ndelayed.<\/p>\n
They said discussions on many issues had yet to be completed
\ngiven the short time available from Nov. 29, when Governor
\nSutiyoso unveiled the proposed budget, to Dec. 30.<\/p>\n
The other councilors said other factions managed the deadline,
\nand that PDI Perjuangan should follow the council rules on
\nrequesting a schedule change of council events.<\/p>\n
According to the rules, at least 10 councilors who represent
\nmore than one faction are allowed to make such a request, which
\nmust reach the Council Speaker with the latest date being three
\ndays before a scheduled event.<\/p>\n
Binsar then said, \"We are not responsible nor bind to follow
\nany decision taken in the meeting. But we will review the
\napproval of the city budget and acknowledge our decision soon.\"<\/p>\n
There are currently 84 councilors from the 11 factions. PDI
\nPerjuangan is the largest faction, followed by the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan faction chairman Audi said of their request to
\npostpone the meeting, \"We are talking about trillions of rupiah
\nin people's money here. The approval (of the proposed city
\nbudget) is being forced. There are some items (in the draft)
\nwhich still need to be reviewed\".<\/p>\n
A rally on Dec. 18 among others by the Urban Poor Consortium
\n(UPC), demanded changes in the proposed budget and brought more
\npublic attention to the city budget. Protesters said that too
\nmuch of the funds were allotted to high ranking civil servants
\nwhen compared to Jakarta's poor.<\/p>\n
Audi cited the routine expenditure, approved Saturday at Rp
\n4.98 trillion, was still too large compared to the money for the
\ndevelopment expenditure which amounted to Rp 2.51 trillion.<\/p>\n
The changes<\/p>\n
The figure of Rp 4.98 trillion had been changed from the
\nproposed Rp 5.02 trillion for routine expenditure, such as for
\nthe salaries of 120,000 city bureaucrats.<\/p>\n
The proposed development expenditure was originally Rp 2.47
\ntrillion.<\/p>\n
UPC coordinator Wardah Hafidz, an observer at Saturday's
\nsession, told reporters that the council's decision was made only
\nin the interest of the council members.<\/p>\n
\"The council has chosen bad timing to approve an important
\ndecision like the draft city budget, which has failed to reflect
\npeople's needs. They should have rejected the proposal,\" she
\nsaid. Most people are now on holiday and not much public
\nattention is being paid to the budget, she added.<\/p>\n
Wardah added that UPC is discussing the possibility of
\nbringing the matter to court with other non governmental
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
Audi said his faction had already sent letters, the latest on
\nDec. 22, to request a delay of the meeting to Jan. 8, but the
\nrequest was turned down.<\/p>\n
The plenary session had already been delayed from Dec. 22 to
\nDec. 30, to give more time for councilors to discuss the proposed
\nbudget. Audi said the council rules should be reviewed to make it
\nmore accommodative to changes.<\/p>\n
Another councilor of PAN said, \"It would be too hard to get at
\nleast 10 members from 11 factions to request a changed schedule
\ndate of a meeting.\" (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-budget-approved-despite-pdi-p-walkout-1447893297",
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