Minister told to account for alleged Rp 3.5 billion of fund irregularities

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung, Lampung

Non-governmental organization (NGO) activists and economists in Lampung province have urged Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno to account for the gubernatorial funds spent during his term as acting governor of the province.

More than Rp 3.5 billion (US$410,000) was reportedly spent in less than one year, a move the activists said was extravagant and hurtful to the people.

"Many people in Lampung are still living in poverty. So, it's not fair if Rp 3.5 billion has been used," Anticorruption Committee (Koak) coordinator Ahmad Yulden Erwin said in the provincial capital of Bandarlampung.

He said Hari had used excessive funds during the January to November period of last year.

The funds should not have come from the provincial budget, but from the Ministry of Home Affairs as Hari is an official of the central government appointed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri as acting governor, Yulden said on Friday.

Lampung Parliament Watch (LPW) coordinator Tisnanta concurred with Erwin, saying the financial responsibility of an acting governor is not regulated under Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy.

The law made it difficult for the Lampung legislative council to demand accountability for funds spent while the minister was acting governor, he added.

"Besides, the expenditure mechanism for the acting governor is not clear and, as such, the use and allocation of funds could not be audited," Tisnanta added.

Marselina, an economist from Lampung University, said an acting governor should be responsible for the budget and ensure appropriate spending.

"Spending such a huge amount of money within 11 months is not appropriate as it is against Ministerial Decree No. 29/2002 on the allocation of funds," she said.

She said the decree, which is used to draft regional budgets, bans the allocations of funds for ceremonial events or welcoming parties for state officials.

"But, actually, Hari Sabarno spent Rp 230 million on entertaining his guests and Rp 1.6 billion on entertaining guests of the Lampung government," added Marselina, who also chairs a team of experts under the People's Network Concerned with Transparency and Regional Autonomy (JMPTOD).

Head of the Lampung administration's finance office Mahyudin claimed the acting governor had spent the funds appropriately.

"He used Rp 3.5 billion of the Rp 3.72 billion allotted to him as acting governor. The money was audited by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) and can be accounted for" he said.

Mahyudin said the funds had been approved by the Lampung legislature. "Everything's clear and let's not make a fuss over this matter," he added.

Hari recently admitted that since becoming acting governor of Lampung he had only used funds from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

His response heightened the NGO activists' demand.

"If the minister says that he did not authorize the Rp 3.5 billion expended from Lampung's 2003 budget, the case should be examined for irregularities involving local officials," Marsalina said.

The Rp 3.5 million funds used by the acting governor's administration includes Rp 944 million for the governor's household expenses, Rp 230 million for guests' expenses, Rp 80 million for electricity bills and Rp 20 million for cell phone bills.

Miscellaneous expenses totaled Rp 88 million, maintenance of the governor's official residence Rp 180.4 million, official car maintenance Rp 287.6 million, official uniform Rp 39 million, official traveling expenses Rp 563 million, medical costs Rp 68 million, house inventory maintenance Rp 154 million and supporting expenses for the governor Rp 750 million.