Legislator rejects funds

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Ang Marentek, a member of the provincial legislative council, turned down a Rp 40 million transportation reimbursement check from the provincial government and returned it through to the legislative council.

Marentek handed over the bank note on his rejection of the money during a hearing between the legislative council and Governor A.J. Sondakh here on Wednesday. The remaining 44 legislators also received similar reimbursements appropriated from the provincial budget to finance their transportation throughout the province and the nation.

"I appeal to the legislative council chairman to read the bank note to let other councillors and local officials know about my rejection of the fund," he said in the hearing.

The provincial government has allocated Rp 5.6 billion for the provincial legislative council to help councillors carry out their political activities during the 2001 fiscal year.

After the hearing, Marentek said he rejected the reimbursement because councillors were not deserving of it, and a majority of local people were still living poor conditions.

Denny Wowoliling, chairman of the organization, Parliament Watch, appreciated Marentek's action, saying the legislator who is widely known for his outspokenness rejected the money because it was against his own conscience.

"Other councillors should follow suit to show their empathy to a majority of local poor people who have been affected the most by the prolonged economic crisis," he said.

Marentek of the Golkar Party quit the legislative body in 1994 after he opposed the operational methods of gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya that he claims has destroyed the environment.