Councillors to return funds to regental administration
Councillors to return funds to regental administration
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Several members of the Tangerang regional council (DPRD) promised
on Wednesday to return "assistance" fund packages worth Rp 37.5
million each that they had received in the regency's 2003 budget.
The regental administration allocated the Rp 37.5 million
payouts to each of the 45 DPRD members to finance their
activities, but the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), in its latest
audit report, considers the funds illegitimate.
Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has appealed to DPRD members
for the 1999-2004 period to return the funds.
Councillors Bahrul Ulum and Ozy Saeroji, who were reelected
for the 2004-2009 period, said on Wednesday that they had
received a letter from the regent requesting them to return the
money soon.
"If we have to return the money as requested by the regent, we
must be ready to give back the funds -- no problem," Bahrul and
Ozy said.
Former councillor Cecep Miharja said he was also ready to
return the money.
"I can return the money right now if necessary," the
businessman and former member of the Golkar faction at the
council said.
He suggested that although the instruction to return the money
came from the BKP, the regental administration should first hold
a meeting with all former councilors since it the payouts
concerned the institution, not individuals.
Meanwhile, a councillor, Anugrah, of the Prosperous Justice
Party (PKS) faction, said he had refused to take the package.
"I will explain to the regental Supervisory Body (Bawasda) and
prove to them that I did not take the money at all," he said.
An audit by BPK uncovered irregular spending worth Rp 24.6
billion (US$2.73 million) in the Tangerang regency in 2003.
According to the agency, irregularities took place in 14
offices under the Tangerang regency administration.
It also called on all councillors and administration officials
involved in budget misappropriations to return the money to city
coffers within six months or face prosecution.