Legislature rejects car buying plan

Legislature rejects car buying plan

MALANG, East Java: Councillors in Malang regency have rejected
a plan to buy new cars for 33 district chiefs.

A councillor from the Golkar faction, Rendra Kresna, said on
Wednesday that Regent Sujud Pribadi had proposed allocating Rp
4.9 billion (US$597,500) from the revision of the 2003 regional
budget to purchase cars to help the subdistrict chiefs make the
2004 election a success.

Each subdistrict chief drives a 1996 Isuzu Panther minivan.

Rendra said the legislature recommended that the regents focus
on more urgent programs, including reconstructing the roads and
bridges that connect the subdistricts across the regency.

"The proposal is unrealistic because the current cars are
still in good condition. There are many other programs we need to
focus on," he said.

Another councillor, Bibit Soeprapto of the National Awakening
Party, said the regent should place a priority on the education
sector, including renovating elementary schools. -- Antara