Councillors overseas trip defended

Councillors overseas trip defended

SURABAYA: Fourteen councillors at the East Java provincial council have traveled to Australia with officials of the East Java provincial government.

Of the councillors, five of them are from the National Awakening (FKB) faction. The officials are from the Education and Training Body at the East Java provincial administration.

Kholilurahman, a councillor from the FKB, confirmed that the councillors departed for Australia on Sunday on a comparative study and were due to return to Surabaya this Thursday.

"The councillors and the officials are studying how to develop the Education and Training Body. The trip will enlighten them and give them new knowledge," he said.

The trip has come under the spotlight, particularly for the five FKB councillors because the National Awakening Party (PKB) recently issued a directive prohibiting FKB councillors from participating in official overseas trips unless urgent.

"The trip was agreed upon by the FKB and the PKB leaders in East Java. Besides, the trip is important for councillors because it will increase their knowledge on legal drafts," said Fathurrosyid, chairman of the FKB. -- Antara