Graft smelled in distribution of assistance for flood victims

Rendi A.Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Rp 50 million (US$4,900) fund intended for flood victims and disbursed to each flood-hit subdistrict across Jakarta, has reportedly been siphoned off by both members of subdistrict councils and the community unit chiefs.

Four days after the fund was distributed by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, several councils still have no concrete plan on how to use the money, while ignoring the fact that many flood victims are still crying out for help.

In Bidara Cina subdistrict, East Jakarta, the council has yet to stage a meeting with residents on the use of the fund. So far, they have spent Rp 21 million for cooking side dishes only.

"We received the money on Wednesday. Unfortunately, on the very same day, our subdistrict was completely flooded. Four members of the council and I had decided to spend Rp 21 million to buy a three days' stock of side dishes," said the council's head, Muhammad Sobar.

"So far, we only have rice and instant noodles -- enough for around 10,000 victims in the area for the near future; we have given the money to ten unit chiefs to set up public kitchens."

Sobar -- who was seen chatting and eating biscuits meant for flood victims with the other four members -- said that a meeting between the council and residents was scheduled for Feb. 21, as the 11 other members were unavailable.

The fund itself is currently kept by head of the subdistrict.

Sobar's statement regarding the public kitchens were denied by the residents of one of the units.

"What public kitchen? It was closed a week ago. During the last four days, when our houses were submerged by floods, again, we received no help from the subdistricts -- only from student donors," grumbled Tamsir, the unit chief.

Ten units in the subdistrict were still submerged by floodwaters by late Friday, with its highest levels reaching 1.3 meters.

Tamsir and other residents claimed that they have yet to be informed about the Rp 50 million in cash aid until reading the newspapers on Thursday.

Similar suspicion could also be found in Bukit Duri subdistrict, South Jakarta. No evidence of the money being spent could be seen in the area.

The head of the Bukit Duri subdistrict council, Madlar, claimed that he had handed over Rp 1 million to two units, and a central public kitchen on Wednesday.

He said that the council would stage a meeting with residents on Friday night.

Not even a single public kitchen, however, was spotted in either of the units mentioned earlier.

Nursalam, one of the unit chiefs, said that, since the floods first hit Jakarta on Jan. 28, there have been no public kitchens available.

Likewise, said Nursalam, he has never received instructions on how to set up a public kitchen.

"We relied entirely on assistance from outside donors in the last four days. I couldn't rely on the subdistrict office, as its officials have only provided us with 20 packs of noodles."

"I was once asked for a box of mineral water for my unit residents to Pak Madlar, but he refused. A staff at the subdistrict, who knew about our problem, finally gave the water," Nursalam said.

Volunteers in the public kitchen contradicted Madlar.

"We never received any money -- especially from the council -- in the last four days to buy rice, noodles, or canned food. We only received the items from donors which were collected at the subdistrict office," said one volunteer, Ningrahayu.

Another unit deputy chief, Idrus, confirmed that he received Rp 1 million on Wednesday, although he added that he had no idea the money was taken from the Rp 50 million aid.

"The council said I must set up four public kitchens in the unit. Of course, the money wasn't enough," he said.

"I could only buy 16 boxes of noodles (worth around Rp 160,000); 160 liters of rice (Rp 480,000), and four boxes of mineral water (Rp 60,000) using the money, plus my transportation costs," he added.