Car buying sparks protest

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Mayor Mochammad Thamrin's decision to purchase 17 official cars worth more than Rp 3 billion (US$416,700) for the mayoralty's councillors sparked a protest on Monday from members of the Pemuda Pancasila youth organization.

The group claimed that the car buying was against Presidential Decree No. 16/1994 on the State Budget, which stipulates that in order to supply the official necessity there must be a clear inventory of the items and an auction is allowed to sell the old properties.

Thamrin reportedly had bought one Mazda Cronos sedan, three Toyota Great Corolla sedans and 13 Toyota Kijang vans for the new legislators.

"We are concerned because it is not clear where the old officials cars are to go. Such a large amount of money could be allotted for other needs," said Pemuda Pancasila spokesman Andri Sainun.

Former legislators reportedly had refused to return their official cars, which were supposed to have been handed in at the end of their working period to the administration and later be used for the new councillors.

"We'll wait for a further response," Andri said, as the group left the council building later in the day. (41/edt)