E. Java officials eat up budget for overseas trips

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Does history just repeat itself? This appears to be happening with East Java officials who, since the New Order era, have made a habit of using unexpended budgetary funds for overseas trips.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo and 35 provincial officials are currently enjoying overseas travel, consuming Rp 1.5 billion from the current budget.

Haruna Sumitro, deputy speaker of the joint faction at the provincial legislative council, said that five ministry offices were currently preparing more overseas trips for their officials that would cost another Rp 1.5 billion.

"Meaning that Rp 3 billion will be spent for the officials' trips," he said.

East Java's 2001 budget totals Rp 2.298 trillion, some Rp 677 billion of which is the general allocation fund from the central government budget for the salaries of civil servants.

The fiscal year started in January and will end in December.

Governor Imam Utomo and his entourage left Surabaya on Oct. 29 and are scheduled to return on Nov. 8. Their trip is taking in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and the People's Republic of China.

Before leaving, the governor said that the trip was being undertaken for comparative studies and other official purposes, such as sister city ties, tourism and manpower.

Meanwhile, local officials from the manpower ministry, archives agency, tourism ministry, water resources development office and the fisheries office, will fly to the Philippines, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, China and Thailand this month.

"Each office will send 15 officials," Haruna said.

Information collected by the joint faction states that the governor and his entourage receive Rp 42 million each, Rp 20 million for transportation costs and Rp 22 million for accommodation and other expenses.

"As far as I know, the overseas trips were not included when we revised the budget," he said.

According to Haruna, some legislators would join the second round of trips involving officials from the five offices.

"By letting the legislators go with them, they hope the trips will not be queried later. Why didn't they use the money for the people?" Haruna criticized.

Achmad Ruba'i, a legislator of Commission A on administration, promised to question the governor about where the travel funds were being allocated from.

"We asked him before he left, but the governor proceeded with his plan.

"What is going on is just like what always happened during the New Order era. Government officials usually spent remaining provincial budget funds on overseas trips in the past," Ruba'i said.