Costly building shocks councilors

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Several councilors were surprised Tuesday with a finding that the local government had doubled the budget for a state-owned building without consulting them.

Rokian Cik Ubir of the dominant Golkar faction and M. Husni Hamzah of the Indonesian Democratic Party said the administration had breached procedures in its decision to add Rp 1.5 billion (US$625 million) to the original Rp 1.02 billion budget for the province's Indonesian Civil Servant Corps' building.

"The governor has never informed us about the extra expenditure. This is a violation of the rules," Rokian said.

Antara reported the extra money was discovered when Endang Soerja, the councilor who chairs the administrative affairs commission, delivered his report on the province's 1997/1998 annual budget in a plenary session.

Endang said the building would cost the province Rp 2.52 billion, exceeding the budget the councilors approved last year.

The councilors' chief, Soemarsono, admitted recommending the extra expenditures without discussing it with his colleagues.

"But the recommendation remains a suggestion, because the provincial administration must receive approval from the Minister of Home Affairs," he said. (amd)