Lampung under fire over draft budget

Oyos Suroso, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

Activists and experts lambasted Lampung's 2002 draft budget, which they said reflected the provincial government's scant concern for local social and economic problems.

An alliance of 36 non-governmental organizations grouped under the Public Network Caring for Transparency and Regional Autonomy (JMPTOD) called on the provincial legislative council to be careful in deliberating the draft bill so as to win the confidence of local people.

"The provincial legislature must have the courage to cut funds allocated for the bureaucracy and reallocate them for local development programs, so as to help solve the numerous serious problems the locals are facing because of the prolonged economic crisis," Achmad Julden Erwin, coordinator of the Lampung Anti- Corruption Committee, said, in a joint media conference here over the weekend.

Other NGOs who joined the media conference were, among others, the Center for Public Policy and Strategic Studies (Pussbik), Lampung Environmental Forum, Lampung Parliament Watch and the local chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

According to the draft budget, which was submitted to the provincial legislative council recently, 70 percent, or Rp 293.9 billion, of the government's assessed income worth Rp 418.4 billion was allocated to finance the administration and only 30 percent or Rp 124.5 billion would be used to finance the province's numerous development programs.

The province's income comprise of Rp 24.1 billion from the 2001 budget, Rp 141.6 billion from the general allocation funds (DAU) from the state budget, Rp 20.4 billion from taxes and Rp 66.7 billion from non-tax revenue.

Erwin said that NGOs had frequently criticized the draft budget before it was submitted to the legislature, but had gained no positive response since from the provincial administration.

"We suspect the governor and the legislature are involved in collusion to design the draft budget beforehand so the legislature won't make any controversial amendments," he added.

He added the NGOs had set up a crisis center to inform the public of the draft budget and to seek their response.

"All responses, reactions and criticisms lodged to the crisis center will be handed over, both to the governor and the legislature, with the hope they will be taken into consideration in their deliberation," he said.

Asrian Hendicaya, coordinator of the Center for Development Studies (Pusiban), criticized the draft budget for giving little attention to social development programs, saying it contradicted Government Regulation No. 110/2000, which stipulates that regional budgets should be aimed at empowering the people.

"However, the draft budget adversely pays more attention to financing the provincial administration and legislature," he said.

Of almost Rp 294 billion allocated for routine spending, Rp 141 billion to pay the salaries of civil servants, Rp 30 billion is allocated for the legislature and the rest is allocated for the governor and his running costs.

"It's quite strange that the legislature's 75 members will each take home Rp 25 million monthly, which includes their basic monthly salary of Rp 5 million," Asrian said, citing the allowances of legislators had also been raised.

He said that the other strange thing was the governor's irrational budget.

"According to Government Regulation No 59/2000, the governor's monthly gross salary is set at Rp 3 million, but the draft budget allocates the governor's salary at Rp 126.4 million per year or Rp 10 million per month," he said.

The provincial administration has allocated Rp 300 million annually for the maintenance of the governor's official residence, Rp 50 million annually for his health allowance, Rp 50 million annual clothing allowance, Rp 1.2 billion annually for operational, travel allowances and Rp 675 million for gifts and souvenirs.

According to him, the draft budget does not show any sign of the local elite's solidarity for the majority of locals who are struggling to cope economically.

"Many locals living in rural areas in the province have consumed all their tiwul made of dried cassava because of skyrocketing rice prices and local officials have not shown much concern for the critical situation," he said.

Marselina, an economics expert from the University of Lampung, said both the provincial administration and legislature should prioritize social and economic development programs to help solve unemployment, education, health problems in the province.

She said it was shameful that the provincial administration allocated only Rp 12 billion, or 2.8 percent of the budget for education, Rp 695.3 million for social affairs and Rp 2 billion for employment.

Governor Oemarsono ruled out the criticisms, saying the budget was balanced and it was oriented to empower low-income people.

"We have allocated special funds to accelerate development programs in education, health and employment," he said, after submitting the draft budget to the legislature.

Mochtar Hasan, deputy chairman of the legislative council, admitted that the government had increased the legislature's budget in an attempt to empower it to do its functions effectively.

"Legislators deserve greater allowances to allow them to conduct their daily activities and to prevent them from abusing their power," he said.