Faction against Landcruiser budget

Faction against Landcruiser budget

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The planned provision of expensive operational vehicles for the South Kalimantan governor and deputy governor was criticized by councilors on Monday, saying it showed insensitivity amid the hardship experienced by the people following the fuel price hike.

"The planned purchase of the luxury cars offends people's sensibilities," South Kalimantan provincial council's Prosperous Justice Party faction said in a statement, read out by spokesman Husaini Suni, in a hearing on Monday.

The faction, he said, could not approve the proposed budget of Rp 2.3 billion (US$230,000) to provide Landcruisers for the governor and deputy governor.

But in general, the faction could accept the revised draft of the province's 2005 budget, from Rp 709.6 billion to Rp 837.3 billion. The other seven factions said nothing of the plan to purchase the cars.

When asked about the plan, South Kalimantan Governor Rudy Ariffin was reluctant to comment, only saying the cars should be able to travel long distances and through rough terrain. -- Antara