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