Inventory on official vehicles

BEKASI (JP): The Bekasi regency is conducting an inventory of both official motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles to help calculate the city budget and particularly to look for ways to cut maintenance costs, an official said on Monday.

"I cannot give the data now because the inventory is still ongoing," Soemirat, a regional assistant to the regency, said.

The inventory was launched following reports of rampant malfeasance in the use of official cars by those who no longer held strategic posts, he said.

"Official cars' status can be changed into personal ownership, but should be done through existing procedures," Soemirat was quoted by Antara as saying.

Based on the existing procedures, officials are entitled to the ownership of their cars after five years, but they are meant to propose the purchase to the Regional Legislative Council for approval, he said.

"After the council the proposals are submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the West Jakarta Governor," he said.

No data on the number of vehicles used by officials in the regency was available on Tuesday. (hhr)