Councillors told to slash own budget

BANDUNG: Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno called on West Java provincial councillors on Thursday to slash their personal allocation of Rp 20 billion (US$2.1 million) in the provincial budget.

The call, which was issued in letter dated May 26, was made only months before the councillors end their five-year term either in July or August.

Hari said the money would be better used for development or poverty eradication programs in the province. -- JP