Councillors dreams of sedans dashed?<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Councillors waiting for cars paid for by the
\ncity budget may end up with zilch as the administration has
\nsuddenly expressed a desire to review the plan following a strong
\nreaction from the public.<\/p>\n
Assistant to city administrative affairs secretary Makmun Amin
\nsaid on Wednesday that the final decision over the controversial
\nplan to provide \"official cars\" to councillors would be made
\nsometime next week.<\/p>\n
The decision, which could be disappointing for those gleefully
\nanticipating the vehicles, would be taken based on the latest
\ndevelopments concerning the issue, including the pros and cons,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
\"We just have to wait until next week as some of the
\ncouncillors may refuse to accept the cars even though the plan
\nwas initially conceived jointly by the city administration and
\nthe councillors,\" Makmun told journalists.<\/p>\n
According to him, the city administration needs to review the
\nplan, which had already been agreed, in order to anticipate
\npossible rejection by some councillors opposed to the plan, which
\ncould later lead to other councillors acting likewise.<\/p>\n
According to the initial plan, the cars for the councillors --
\nsaid to be Hyundai Accent sedans -- were to cost some Rp 5.5
\nbillion (US$625,000) and were to be funded by a forecast surplus
\nin the current (April-December) 2000 city budget.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, the city administration is slated to purchase the
\nHyndai Accent sedans soon as the plan has to be realized in
\nDecember,\" Makmun said.<\/p>\n
Councillors have come under fire for the various facilities
\nthey have received or are to receive from the city
\nadministration, including bonuses, subsidies for the purchase of
\nland, and the South Korean-made cars.<\/p>\n
When the 2000 budget came into effect in April, the
\ncouncillors were given some Rp 75 million by the administration
\nto purchase private cars.<\/p>\n
Makmun contended that the initial decision to provide official
\ncars for the councillors was taken in accordance with proper
\nprocedures and was fully debated.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, he said, it was a joint decision of the
\ncouncillors and the city administration.<\/p>\n
\"So, it is wrong for people to say that this was simply the
\nresult of the councillors' demands and that the city
\nadministration was forced to comply.<\/p>\n
It's a mutual agreement between the two bodies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Makmun did not disclose whether former councillors, who had
\npreviously been assigned official cars, had already returned them
\nto the council.<\/p>\n
However, it is common knowledge that no former councillor has
\never returned a car which supposedly belongs to the state.<\/p>\n
Makmun said that although the city administration has the
\nauthority to arrange the budget, every decision should firstly go
\nthrough thorough deliberation in the city council.<\/p>\n
Separately on Wednesday, City Council Deputy Speaker Tarmidi
\nSuhardjo said he personally expected that all of his 84
\ncolleagues would reject the official cars on the grounds that it
\nis more important to stand up for the people's interests.<\/p>\n
\"I have rejected the plan that was submitted to me as deputy
\nspeaker and I really hope that some (of my colleagues) will
\nfollow my lead,\" the councillor from the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said.<\/p>\n
However, he did not dispute the fact that he had accepted the
\nadministration's bonus and car subsidy from Governor Sutiyoso.
\n(dja)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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