Councillors protest office renovation

BANDUNG, West Java: Several councillors expressed anger on Monday over Council Speaker Eka Santosa's move to renovate his office at the City Council building despite the fact that the Budget Commission had not yet approved the renovation fund.

A member of the budget commission, Yudi Widhiana Adia, told reporters that the commission was still deliberating over the renovation fund which is estimated at about Rp 98 million (US$10,315).

"We were still discussing the urgency of the renovation because we thought the council speaker's room was still in perfectly good condition. But then on Saturday, construction work to renovate the room had already begun," Yudi said.

The renovation was apparently being done with money expected to be paid to contractor once the 2001 budget had been disbursed.

Beside councillors, council staff workers working in the adjacent room have also complained as Eka's room is being widened.

Eka could not be reached for comment on Monday as he was on a Haj pilgrimage.

Recently, Eka also came under fire as he allegedly purchased a Toyota Crown sedan costing around Rp 600 million ($63,157) from funds originally allocated for natural disasters.(25)