E. Java officials eat up budget for overseas trips<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Does history just repeat itself? This appears to be happening
\nwith East Java officials who, since the New Order era, have made
\na habit of using unexpended budgetary funds for overseas trips.<\/p>\n
East Java Governor Imam Utomo and 35 provincial officials are
\ncurrently enjoying overseas travel, consuming Rp 1.5 billion from
\nthe current budget.<\/p>\n
Haruna Sumitro, deputy speaker of the joint faction at the
\nprovincial legislative council, said that five ministry offices
\nwere currently preparing more overseas trips for their officials
\nthat would cost another Rp 1.5 billion.<\/p>\n
\"Meaning that Rp 3 billion will be spent for the officials'
\ntrips,\" he said.<\/p>\n
East Java's 2001 budget totals Rp 2.298 trillion, some Rp 677
\nbillion of which is the general allocation fund from the central
\ngovernment budget for the salaries of civil servants.<\/p>\n
The fiscal year started in January and will end in December.<\/p>\n
Governor Imam Utomo and his entourage left Surabaya on Oct. 29
\nand are scheduled to return on Nov. 8. Their trip is taking in
\nJapan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and the People's Republic
\nof China.<\/p>\n
Before leaving, the governor said that the trip was being
\nundertaken for comparative studies and other official purposes,
\nsuch as sister city ties, tourism and manpower.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, local officials from the manpower ministry,
\narchives agency, tourism ministry, water resources development
\noffice and the fisheries office, will fly to the Philippines,
\nHong Kong, the Netherlands, China and Thailand this month.<\/p>\n
\"Each office will send 15 officials,\" Haruna said.<\/p>\n
Information collected by the joint faction states that the
\ngovernor and his entourage receive Rp 42 million each, Rp 20
\nmillion for transportation costs and Rp 22 million for
\naccommodation and other expenses.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know, the overseas trips were not included when
\nwe revised the budget,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Haruna, some legislators would join the second
\nround of trips involving officials from the five offices.<\/p>\n
\"By letting the legislators go with them, they hope the trips
\nwill not be queried later. Why didn't they use the money for the
\npeople?\" Haruna criticized.<\/p>\n
Achmad Ruba'i, a legislator of Commission A on administration,
\npromised to question the governor about where the travel funds
\nwere being allocated from.<\/p>\n
\"We asked him before he left, but the governor proceeded with
\nhis plan.<\/p>\n
\"What is going on is just like what always happened during the
\nNew Order era. Government officials usually spent remaining
\nprovincial budget funds on overseas trips in the past,\" Ruba'i
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-java-officials-eat-up-budget-for-overseas-trips-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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