City Council talks money in Puncak

City Council talks money in Puncak

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City councillors and officials start to discuss the 2003 city
budget, which amounts to Rp 11.05 trillion (US$1.23 billion), on
Tuesday amid public criticism of their poor performance and of
the huge renumeration packages they receive.

Councillor Ahmad Heryawan of the Justice Party claimed that
the venue for the two-day discussion, which would take place at
privately owned Ciloto Indah Permai Hotel and Resort, had been
agreed by a majority of the 85 councillors.

"We suggested that the discussion take place here, but a
majority wanted it at the Puncak," Heryawan, a member of Council
Commission E for social welfare affairs, said.

According to the Council's schedule, the meeting on the budget
should take place at city-owned Wisma Jaya Raya in the Puncak,
Bogor.

But the meeting was moved to the hotel in Ciloto, Cianjur
regency as Wisma Jaya Raya had been booked by paramilitary youth
group Pemuda Panca Marga.

Councillor Ridlo Kamaludin of the United Development Party
revealed on Monday that the meeting on the budget could not take
place here at City Council premises.

"It (the hotel costs) has already been paid for," said Ridlo
of Council Commission C for financial and budgetary affairs,
without mentioning the costs of the meeting.

A source said on Monday that the Council had booked at least
100 rooms at the hotel in Ciloto costing Rp 200,000 each per
night for four nights. It was more expensive than the rate at
Wisma Jaya Raya, which was about Rp 150,000 per night.

"It's more expensive. At Wisma Jaya Raya, we could obtain a 30
percent discount as it's owned by the administration," the source
said.

The source added that the meeting, including accommodation and
food, could cost Rp 200 million, refuting a report that it would
total Rp 1.5 billion.

"However, if the meeting allowance for the councillors is
included, it would probably reach that amount (Rp 1.5 billion),"
the source said.

Many observers criticized the councillors for holding the
budget discussion at the Puncak and wasting public money.

They also considered that the councillors were trying to avoid
public scrutiny by having the meeting there.

In previous years, although councillors were provided with
rooms at Wisma Jaya Raya, most did not stay overnight.

Food and beverages provided by the hotel were not touched by
councillors either as they dined at restaurants near the hotel.

Several businessmen were seen hanging around the hotel, during
the meeting, believed to be trying to lobby councillors and city
officials.

During the meeting, councillors would also discuss facilities
to be received by themselves and city officials, especially the
governor.

Observers deplored earlier the allocation of Rp 90 billion, in
the proposed 2003 budget, to the city's 85 councillors, including
Rp 42 billion for salary and transport allowances and Rp 1
billion for clothing.

The proposed budget also allocates Rp 9 billion to Governor
Sutiyoso.

The allocation of Rp 90 billion to councillors and Rp 9
billion to Sutiyoso was ironic as the budget only allocated Rp 26
billion to poor people in the city, who total 1.2 million people.

The budget proposal, which was officially submitted by
Sutiyoso on Jan. 14, is scheduled to be approved by the Council
at the end of this month. In past years, the Council has approved
the budget without significant amendment.