Military and police dorm funds

Military and police dorm funds

Last month, President Megawati Soekarnoputri visited the Indonesian Military and the National Police dormitories in Jakarta. She was startled by the condition of the dormitories, which were hardly livable. In response, the President subsequently handed over Rp 30 billion to refurbish the dorms.

The question is where did the President obtain the funds?

The mystery of the source of the funds has recently become the subject of much public debate. The public has even begun referring to the matter as Asramagate, after the Buloggate case. The House of Representative even seems prepared to question the President, if, after examination, no assistance funds of Rp 30 billion are found in the state budget.

It is not likely that the money came from the president's budget, because in the 2002 state budget the president's budget is only Rp 43 billion. And this amount is divided into some Rp 31 billion for the State Secretariat and Rp 12 billion for the Presidential Secretariat.

It could be that, out of charity, the President is donating her own money to refurbish the military and police dormitories. Yet, Rp 30 billion is a very considerable amount when compared to the President's total worth of about Rp 60 billion, as reported to the State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission.

President Megawati should offer a transparent explanation of the origin of the Rp 30 billion. It is the obligation of the President to set a good example.

-- Republika, Jakarta