Council defends meeting in Puncak

Council defends meeting in Puncak

JAKARTA (JP): City Council speaker Edy Waluyo denied on Monday
reports that city councilors spent a great deal of money to fund
their meeting about the city's budget in the Puncak resort area
in Bogor recently.

Edy said the two-day meeting which was opened on Oct. 28 was
conducted at Jaya Raya villa, which is owned by the city
administration.

"So we didn't pay anything for it. Our stay at the villa even
helped promote the facility as was proven by the many people who
reserved places there after we concluded the meeting," he said.

He said holding the meeting in the villa was more effective
and efficient than if it had been conducted in the city council
chambers.

Moreover it was held only over two days as compared to five
days if it had been conducted in the city council building, he
said.

The councilors could also concentrate more easily on the topic
under discussion without being disturbed by other matters,
including family problems, he said.

They could also discuss the topic until late at night in the
villa, he insisted.

Edy denied that the council had received Rp 75 million
(US$10,000) from city-owned Bank DKI to finance the meeting.

"It's not true. If it were true it would have to be processed
according to the existing regulations," he said, without giving
details on the funds needed to finance the meeting. (jun)