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