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