Mark up suspected in 'flag fund'<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Irregularities were found in the proposed Rp 3.5 billion
\n(US$411,765) budget to relocate Bendera Pusaka (original national
\nflag) from the State Palace to the independence room at the
\nNational Monument (Monas).<\/p>\n
Some Rp 1.3 billion of the budget will be spent for a security
\nsystem and equipment in which the city will provide three 14-inch
\ntelevision sets, each valued at Rp 10 million in the proposed
\nbudget. The price of a 14-inch TV on the market is around Rp 2
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
City spokesman Muhayat could not explain the marked difference
\nin the prices but only said that the price, as stated in the
\nproposal, was only an estimate.<\/p>\n
\"The final price of the items will be decided through tender,\"
\nMuhayat told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The three TV sets will be used to monitor the room from the
\nState Palace and City Hall.<\/p>\n
Head of the City Culture and Museum Agency Nurhadi said that
\nthe budget would also be used to purchase other security
\nequipment including infrared motion detectors, glass breaking
\ndetectors, indoor sirens, auto voice dialers and smoke and heat
\ndetectors.<\/p>\n
The Rp 3.5 billion budget would be taken from the 2003 revised
\ncity budget, which was approved by the City Council on Monday.
\nCouncillors approved to provide an additional amount of Rp
\n576.943 billion, bringing the total city budget to Rp 11.562
\ntrillion.<\/p>\n
Despite the approval, councillors also called on the city
\nadministration to improve its performance as it could only spend
\n25 percent of its budget in the first semester.<\/p>\n
Nurhadi said that some Rp 1.09 billion would be allocated to
\npurchase 15 kilograms of gold to coat the box which will be used
\nto keep the historic flag, hand-sewn by former First Lady
\nFatmawati, in the Independence Room. Other historical items such
\nas the proclamation text, the Nusantara (archipelago) map and the
\nGaruda statue will also be plated in gold.<\/p>\n
Other allocations will be for the flag relocation itself at Rp
\n105.6 million, consultancy payment Rp 229.19 million and the
\nrelocation ceremony Rp 500 million.<\/p>\n
Monas management office director Surya Dharma Basri said that
\nthe event was expected to be conducted on Oct. 28 in conjunction
\nwith the Youth Pledge Day commemoration.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso had earlier proposed a Rp 6.5 billion budget
\nfor the relocation of the flag, adding that the flag would not be
\nfolded.<\/p>\n
It is not the first time that the administration has been
\ncriticized for padding its projects' budgets.<\/p>\n
In March, the administration was criticized by non-
\ngovernmental organizations for allocating Rp 412 million for the
\nconstruction of an 81-square-meter classroom. The market price
\nfor such a room is less than Rp 200 million.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mark-up-suspected-in-flag-fund-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}