Factions accept Bogor regent's budget speech

BOGOR: Amid student protests, all of the six factions at the Bogor regency council accepted on Thursday the regent's budget speech.

The Students Executive Board of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture urged the councillors to reject the regent's budget accountability speech, saying that many development projects had failed. They referred to some cases, including the collapse of newly renovated school buildings and the lack of professionalism among officials.

The four factions of Golkar, Military/Police, the United Development Party and the Alliance, however, accepted Regent Agus Utara Effendi's budget speech without any reservations.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction said it approved the budget speech but asked the regent to improve his performance. While the Madani faction said Effendi should settle various problems that were still facing the regency, such as those related to Leuwilang market, Leuwilang hospital, the bus terminal, and the issuance of building permits in Puncak resort. The Madani faction also asked the regency to put the right official in the appropriate position. -- JP