Councillors upset by regent's speech

Councillors upset by regent's speech

BOGOR: Councillors in the Bogor regency are upset about a
speech given by Regent Agus Utara Efendi during the council's
plenary session on Wednesday, which they feel belittled and
insulted them.

The councillors said they were hurt by the regent's words and
had demanded a written explanation from Agus.

In the speech, Agus said he did not allow his subordinates to
travel for comparative studies, a clear reference to the
councillors' own recent comparative studies to Riau and Medan,
North Sumatra.

"In short, I, Agus Utara Efendi, will not allow my
subordinates to make any comparative studies anywhere, but if you
want to, it's up to you," he said.

The councillors are also upset by the regent's use of words
such as "stupid", "idiot" and "hoodlumism", although the regent
did not specify to whom he was referring.

Endang Kosasih, a councillor, said Agus was arrogant and
should have been more careful with his choice of words.--JP