Misuse of budget

Misuse of budget

From Republika

The news that the East Java Counsel dealt money among themselves at the end of their term, shocked and concerned me no end. The report went on to say that the regional government distributed about Rp 9 billion to 100 East Java Counsel members.

The money originated from the Housing Development Project of the East Java regional government headed by chief of the province's planning bureau. The houses had been earmarked for executives and legislative members.

For some reason, the officials had to receive land (priced at Rp 20 million) and a sum of money to build their own houses (Rp 70 million each).

But the question is whether these funds were withdrawn from the 1996-1997 East Java budget through a post described as "other expenditure".

Distribution of the money was approved by the East Java Governor, although he avoided elaborating on the source of the money.

It is difficult to believe that the East Java Administration took the money from the people and spent it to fund their own interests. The money should have been spent on development that would have benefited the people.

The East Java Governor's indifference is truly regrettable. To me, this indicates that something is wrong with our bureaucracy. It should have been an embarrassing incident for the East Java Counsel. Can't they see that the public depends on them for fulfillment of their aspirations and their desires?

DADAN ISKANDAR

Yogyakarta