Aceh funds in question

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Councillors here suspect the possible embezzlement of funds meant to be channeled from state-owned oil company Pertamina to people empowerment programs, with some regions yet to receive the money.

"The system isn't quite transparent. Even I, a member of the team supervising the funds, don't really understand the system, let alone other people who are not involved," said the chairman of the Provincial Council's Commission E for public welfare, O.K. Ibrahim.

Ibrahim said that out of a total of Rp 43.7 billion (US$4.6 million) meant for the programs, some Rp 9.6 billion ($1 million) had been dispersed to targeted regions.

However, not all of the regencies have received the dispersed funds, including the residents of Manyak Payek subdistrict, East Aceh regency, Antara reported on Thursday.

"I've conveyed the problem to the regent but he said he didn't know anything about it," Ibrahim said.

Besides the funds, Pertamina also has donated 182 solar lamps for fishermen, 62 solar tunnel dryers, 28 school buses -- one of them for the Provincial Council -- and 16 ambulances.(hdn)