Council says no to luxury cars

TANGERANG: Tangerang Municipal Legislative Council has rejected a proposal submitted by the administration to buy two luxury cars for the new Mayor Wahidin Halim and his deputy Deddy Safe'i, a councillor said on Wednesday.

Doni Astoto of the Council's budget committee said the office of the secretary proposed on Monday the purchase of a Mitsubishi Pajero jeep and a Toyota Camry sedan to be used as official cars for the mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

He said the committee had approved Rp 3.2 billion (US$376,470) of the 2004 budget to buy 48 official cars for the officers of the administration agencies, subdistricts and districts.

"There is no need to buy expensive cars especially when we are calling for moderation in expenditure," he said. -- JP