Costly building shocks councilors<\/p>\n
PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Several councilors were surprised
\nTuesday with a finding that the local government had doubled the
\nbudget for a state-owned building without consulting them.<\/p>\n
Rokian Cik Ubir of the dominant Golkar faction and M. Husni
\nHamzah of the Indonesian Democratic Party said the administration
\nhad breached procedures in its decision to add Rp 1.5 billion
\n(US$625 million) to the original Rp 1.02 billion budget for the
\nprovince's Indonesian Civil Servant Corps' building.<\/p>\n
\"The governor has never informed us about the extra
\nexpenditure. This is a violation of the rules,\" Rokian said.<\/p>\n
Antara reported the extra money was discovered when Endang
\nSoerja, the councilor who chairs the administrative affairs
\ncommission, delivered his report on the province's 1997\/1998
\nannual budget in a plenary session.<\/p>\n
Endang said the building would cost the province Rp 2.52
\nbillion, exceeding the budget the councilors approved last year.<\/p>\n
The councilors' chief, Soemarsono, admitted recommending the
\nextra expenditures without discussing it with his colleagues.<\/p>\n
\"But the recommendation remains a suggestion, because the
\nprovincial administration must receive approval from the Minister
\nof Home Affairs,\" he said. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/costly-building-shocks-councilors-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}