West Java restricts overseas travel<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
The West Java administration and provincial legislative council
\nspends more money on itself than it does on the public at large,
\nthe province's deputy governor conceded Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In response the administration and legislative council agreed
\nhere on Wednesday to restrict overseas travel to limit
\nexpenditure in the 2004 budget.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement made in a plenary session of the
\nlegislature, local civil servants and councillors cannot visit
\nthe United States or Europe for study tours.<\/p>\n
However, they are free to accept invitations to countries
\nwithin the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or if
\nthey pay for the trips themselves.<\/p>\n
West Java deputy governor Nu'man Abdul Hakim, speaking after
\nthe meeting, said the money spent so far by civil servants on
\nthemselves was more than was allocated to the public at large.<\/p>\n
One third of the 2003 budget, amounting to Rp 3 trillion
\n(US$355 million), or only about Rp 935 billion was spent on
\npublic affairs in the nation's most densely populated province,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Nu'man did not specify the amounts of state funds used for the
\nlocal officials and councillors, including their overseas trips.<\/p>\n
As a consequence, West Java, home to around 37 million people,
\nfailed to carry out any significant antipoverty programs, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, councillor Yudi Widiana Adia said the overseas trips
\ncost tens of billions of rupiah, adding the funds were allocated
\nthrough government agencies.<\/p>\n
"They took trips to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, America and European
\ncountries like France. Should the travel expenses be reduced, it
\ncould increase the money available for education, health and
\nemployment."<\/p>\n
Nu'man said some nine million, or 25 percent, of the
\nprovince's population lived under the poverty line.<\/p>\n
"For that reason, we have suggested that overseas tours by
\nofficials and council members be limited in an effort to suppress
\nthe legislative and executive expenditure. So, we can allocate
\nmore funds for the public," he told journalists after attending
\nthe plenary session.<\/p>\n
He said the comparative studies to Europe and the U.S. were a
\nwaste of money and of no benefit to the public.<\/p>\n
Travel to ASEAN countries was tolerable if civil servants and
\ncouncillors were invited or if they pay their own expenses, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"ASEAN has similar cultures and systems as ours. Take Malaysia
\nas an example. Surely, there will be more benefits to visit ASEAN
\nnations than Europe and the U.S.," Nu'man added.<\/p>\n
Students and other activists have slammed civil servants and
\ncouncillors in West Java for often defying protests against the
\ntrips.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-java-restricts-overseas-travel-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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