DPR against purchase of presidential plane

JAKARTA (JP): The planned purchase of a Boeing aircraft to be used as the presidential airplane is receiving strong opposition from legislators who said the people are in urgent need of rice and not a private airplane.

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung asked President Abdurrahman Wahid to postpone the plan saying the country was still suffering from the economic crisis.

"I think, for the time being, the plan to procure the plane should be postponed. We are still in a crisis," Akbar, also chairman of the Golkar party, told reporters.

He suggested that Gus Dur, the President's nickname, continue using commercial flights since the cost would be lower and financially accountable.

Similarly, legislator Alvin Lie of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction regretted the President's plan to procure such a plane.

"The plan shows that Gus Dur does not have a sense of crisis," Alvin said.

Head of palace protocol Wahyu Muryadi said on Monday that the Boeing Company had offered a 737-800 airplane at a price of between US$50 million and $60 million.

Legislator Hamdan Zulva of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) faction suggested Abdurrahman reduce his foreign trips instead of buying a plane.

Opposition was also aired by deputy chairman of the House budgetary commission Abdullah Zainie.

"Most members (of the commission) should reject the plan. People need rice not an airplane!" Abdullah said. "We shouldn't use tax payers' money for things that aren't urgent".

The government spending in the 2001 state budget is estimated at Rp 230.3 trillion with a deficit of some Rp 53 trillion.

But Golkar legislator Yasril Ananta Baharuddin said buying the airplane would probably be cheaper than the president using a commercial flight.

"The funds could be taken from our surplus in oil export," Yasril, also chairman of the House Commission I for political, security and foreign affairs, said.

The planned purchase of the plane even drew controversy in the Cabinet.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli defended the plan, saying the use of Garuda Indonesia's commercial aircraft as the presidential carrier was not "efficient."

Finance Minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo said the government has not discussed the matter and had not included it in the draft budget.

A senior official at the finance ministry, however, expressed disagreement with the plan.

"Even without the purchase (of the plane), the upcoming (2001) state budget is already in deficit," the official, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said. "But if (the President) wants to create a bigger deficit, go ahead".(rei/jun)