West Java governor warned against misusing aid<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
West Java councillors have cautioned provincial governor Danny
\nSetiawan against misusing the Rp 225.9 billion (US$265,764) in
\nassistance funds he is proposing, in part, to be used for social
\nand political organizations.<\/p>\n
They allege the funds could be channeled to help finance
\nelectoral campaigns of the Golkar Party and the United
\nDevelopment Party, both of which supported Danny's gubernatorial
\nnomination earlier this year, ahead of the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
He was elected governor in July.<\/p>\n
The governor included the funds in the 2004 budget under
\ndeliberation at the West Java legislative council.<\/p>\n
The council is scheduled to endorse the budget on Dec. 23
\nafter the governor provides details of the fund's would-be
\nrecipients on Dec. 15.<\/p>\n
"We need to hear detailed explanations about those who would
\nreceive the aid, as the funds could potentially be used for
\ncampaigns by certain political parties," councillor Yudi Widiana
\nAdia said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The governor's proposal indicates the funds would be channeled
\nto assist socio-political organizations, professional
\ninstitutions, police and legal firms.<\/p>\n
Adia said the proposed funds was much larger than similar aid
\nprovided in the 2003 budget, at only Rp 39 billion.<\/p>\n
She said the proposed allocation was not fair, given that only
\nRp 230 billion was for education and Rp 180 billion for health,
\nwhile West Java had a population of 37 million.<\/p>\n
Also, the governor had allotted only Rp 39.8 billion toward
\nnatural disaster management in the province, which is one of the
\nprovinces most vulnerable to floods and landslides.<\/p>\n
Councillor Rafani Achyar echoed the warning, saying the social
\nassistance funds could be distributed to particular political
\nparties and their affiliated organizations.<\/p>\n
"I suspect that the aid allocation is politically motivated.
\nTherefore, we must monitor the distribution of the funds
\nstringently ... whether they are used for social assistance or
\nother ends," he said.<\/p>\n
Rafani also said the Rp 230 billion assistance program
\nintended for 2,000 West Java villages in the proposed budget
\ncould be also misused.<\/p>\n
"The channeling of Rp 70 billion in assistance for 700
\nvillages in 2003 has not yet been evaluated; now the governor is
\nproposing a much bigger amount for the same program. What's it
\nfor?"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-java-governor-warned-against-misusing-aid-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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