Legislator rejects funds

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.