Fund for political seminar rejected<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some political parties at the City Council have suggested the
\nelimination of the Rp 1.5 billion (US$150,000) fund allocated in
\nthe 2002 City Budget for a political ethic seminar program.<\/p>\n
\"This program is just like that in the New Order regime. If we
\nare not allowed to manage the fund alone, it's better not to use
\nthe fund,\" councillor Posman Siahaan of the Unity and Justice
\nParty (PKP) said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a meeting with head of the City Unity Nation
\nBody, Effendy Anas, Siahaan disapproved the program, saying it
\nwould influence the parties' policy.<\/p>\n
He claimed his idea has been supported by the Unity and
\nDiversity Party (PBI).<\/p>\n
The PBI and PKP only have one seat each in the council. The
\nother eight parties' stances in the council remain unclear.<\/p>\n
During former president Soeharto's regime, the seminar
\nprogram, featuring speakers from the government, must be attended
\nby councillors.<\/p>\n
The program was conducted by the Body (formerly known as the
\nCity Social Political Body) and was believed to intervene the
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
But Effendy denied that the program aimed at interfering the
\nparties' policy. He said that the fund was allocated in the
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
\"It's (interfering) in the past. Now, we are cooperating with
\nthe political parties to arrange the program,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from the Rp 1.5 billion fund, all 48 political parties,
\ncontested in the 1999 general elections, are entitled to Rp 10.26
\nbillion from the city budget.<\/p>\n
Election winner the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) with 30 seats at the council will receive Rp 1.5
\nbillion. Nine other parties, which have as many as 13 seats, will
\nget between Rp 684 million and Rp 52 million.<\/p>\n
The remaining 38 parties, without any seats at the council,
\nwill only get Rp 16 million each.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fund-for-political-seminar-rejected-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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