E. Java complains of numerous VIP visits

SURABAYA (JP): The frequent visits of Jakarta VIPs have swallowed up the East Java annual protocol budget, an official said on Tuesday.

East Java Provincial Secretary Soenarjo told reporters that this year his office allotted Rp 1 billion for special guests from Jakarta. "But the fund has been depleted in 10 months. We have submitted a proposal for additional funds to the provincial legislative council." He did not reveal how much money his office had requested.

"Most of the VIPs were those, including ministers, who accompanied the President and Vice President on visits to the province. The money was used for ceremonial greetings, security expenses and miscellaneous disbursements. Ministerial visits also have been burdensome financially," said Soenarjo.

In the last ten months President Abdurrahman Wahid has visited East Java 13 times, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri 14 times and other Cabinet ministers 100 times.

The President is notorious for his overseas trips. He has visited 41 countries since he was appointed president less then one year ago.

It was quite understandable that the President and Vice President have frequented East Java as both hailed from the province. "Many of the visits were unofficial."

The President's home town is Jombang, a town some 65 kilometers southwest of provincial capital Surabaya.

Soenarjo said he could not imagine what would happen if the proposal for additional funds was rejected.

A similar complaint was voiced by the Blitar regency administration. First president Sukarno, Megawati's father, was born and buried in Blitar and Megawati has been to the town many times to visit her father's grave.

Blitar Mayor Syaiful Djarot Hidayat said on Tuesday that his office had set aside a total of Rp 67.5 million, or some eight percent of the town's revenues, for annual protocol expenses. "But we have spent Rp 12 million more."

He said he had asked the governor for additional funds. (nur/sur)