Kahfi clarifies Sutiyoso's trip to Philippines<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul
\nKahfi clarified yesterday that Governor Sutiyoso's mysterious
\ntrip to the Philippines was related to his job and not to attend
\na junior soccer game.<\/p>\n
Kahfi said that Sutiyoso was on a mission to restore the
\ncity's image overseas after Jakarta was hit by massive riots in
\nMay and to attract foreign investors to return to the city.<\/p>\n
\"His trip has long been scheduled. Due to investors' doubts to
\ncome to the city, the governor considered it necessary to explain
\nthe reality of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"His trip has no relation to any soccer game. It is just
\ncoincidental that the national junior team is playing in Manila.
\nIs it wrong if he goes there to give moral support to the
\nIndonesian team?\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's departure for the Philippines on Tuesday afternoon,
\nwhich occurred without any explanation, was queried by city
\ncouncilors as it comes at a time when the city is struggling both
\nwith the impact of the prolonged crisis and to bring the security
\nsituation under control.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday the only available information about Sutiyoso's
\njourney came from a source at the city administration who said
\nthat Sutiyoso \"will attend a junior soccer game\".<\/p>\n
According to the All Indonesian Soccer Federation, the
\nPhilippines is currently hosting the qualifying round for the
\nUnder-19 Asia Cup which was scheduled to start Tuesday and last
\nthrough Sunday.<\/p>\n
Kahfi said the trip would be paid for from the city budget.<\/p>\n
He understood that the governor had promised not to allocate
\nany budget for official travel this year due to the lack of money
\nin the city budget, \"but it doesn't mean that should be
\nmotionless.\"<\/p>\n
\"For the sake of the people's needs there's still a
\npossibility to travel abroad. Moreover, the trip is to convince
\nthe neighboring country that the city's situation (after being
\nrocked by riots) is not as bad as they imagine,\" he told
\nreporters after, on behalf of Sutiyoso, reading the city
\nadministration's replies to councilors' questions on the draft
\nbylaw on the city budget for the 1997\/1998 fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Councilor Saud Rahman of the United Development Party faction
\nstrongly opposed Kahfi's explanation, accusing the deputy
\ngovernor of just trying to seek an excuse.<\/p>\n
\"Most ASEAN countries are hit by the economic crisis, so it
\ndoesn't make sense if the governor looks for investors there,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Saud also protested the city administration's policy that the
\ngovernor's trip would be paid for with funds from the city
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
\"I can't understand how he can use funds from city budget to
\ntravel abroad, while the administration has just rejected a
\nproposal by city councilors who want to travel to the Thousand
\nIslands, just to the north of here, to observe the uncontrollable
\nland reclamation practices, illegal sand excavation and harvest
\nof coral there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the observation was planned to be held last week.<\/p>\n
\"At that time the councilors could understand that there's no
\nfunding allocation for the trip to the Thousand Islands. However,
\nwhy are there suddenly funds for the governor's overseas trip,
\nwhich is much more expensive?\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, the head of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction
\nLukman Mokoginta said that he could accept Kahfi's explanation.<\/p>\n
\"I don't object the governor's trip if it's related to the
\ncity's affairs,\" he said. (ind)<\/p>",
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