Car buying sparks protest

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)