Councilors waste Rp 1b funds

SEMARANG: The Surakarta chapter of the United Development Party accused provincial legislative council members of wasting state money.

The money in question concerns the legislators' overseas trip that cost Rp 1 billion (US$435,000).

"We don't see any point to the visit. They're only wasting the people's money," the party said in a written statement signed by party member Mudrick Setiawan.

He said that the budget should have been used to help fight poverty in the province instead of being used for the so-called "comparative study" trip.

The party also criticized the legislative council for not taking any action against the provincial government which failed to account for Rp 900 million in development funds. (har/05)