Special session funding approved<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has approved the disbursement of
\nsome Rp 20 billion (about US$1.79 million) from the state budget
\nto finance the special session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR), following complaints from legislators of funding
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
"The funding for the special session has been approved, the
\ndirector general for state budget will follow up on it," Minister
\nof Finance Rizal Ramli said on Thursday on the sidelines of a
\nhearing with the House of Representatives' Commission IX, which
\noversees financial affairs.<\/p>\n
Slated for Aug. 1, the special session will hear President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's accountability over two financial scandals
\nand his erratic leadership.<\/p>\n
But the absence of a budget had raised questions over the
\ngovernment's commitment to support the event.<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais has called on legislators to raise
\nfunds for the special session and slash expenses if the
\ngovernment failed to provide the funding.<\/p>\n
Rizal, however, dismissed speculations that the government was
\nreluctant to disburse the funds.<\/p>\n
"Don't use conspiracy theories on me, let's act like adults,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The government has also allocated Rp 21 billion from the state
\nbudget for the MPR annual session, the date of which remains
\nuncertain.<\/p>\n
On the disbursement of funds for political parties, Rizal said
\nhis office had drawn up a budget of Rp 1,000 for each voter.<\/p>\n
"The total funds will amount to some Rp 105 billion," he said.<\/p>\n
He explained the funds were allotted to cover the parties'
\nbasic operational activities, such as telephone and
\ntransportation expenses.<\/p>\n
"This is an important part of developing democracy," Rizal
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The bigger the party, the more financial support it receives,
\nhe said, adding that this policy did not discriminate against
\nsmall parties.<\/p>\n
This way, he said, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) deserved the lion's share of the Rp 105 billion.<\/p>\n
Rizal said the allocation of state funds to support political
\nparties had long been agreed to by the government and the House,
\n"but had only been approved in the current fiscal year."<\/p>\n
To obtain the fund, a party's chairperson or secretary must
\napply to the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
After which, he said, the application would be forwarded to
\nthe finance ministry for disbursement.(bkm)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/special-session-funding-approved-1447893297",
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