NGOs to investigate donation misuse

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) agreed on Monday to investigate the alleged misuse of a Rp 16 billion (US$2 million) donation to the Tangerang mayoralty.

The NGOs said PT Angkasa Pura II, a state-owned company that manages the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, contributed the funds for community development programs.

Tangerang Government Watch chairman Tony Wismantoro said the NGOs had already met officials from the company and from the Tangerang City Council.

"PT Angkasa Pura II's airport head Risman Nuryadin revealed that his company had donated Rp 16 billion to the mayoralty for the community development program," Tony said, without saying when it was disbursed.

He alleged that the money, intended for residents living near the airport to help them cope with the noise, never reached them.

Institute of Public Policy chairman Ibnu Jandi said the mayoralty used the money to finance the development of a four- kilometer road from Tangerang to the airport and another road near the Poris bus terminal.

Jandi said PT Angkasa Pura II financed the development of the first road, Jl. Marsekal Surya Darma, for Rp 29 billion while the mayoralty was responsible for land appropriation for the road.

He said the mayoralty borrowed money from overseas to finance the second road.

Mayoralty spokesman Saeful Rahman denied it had received Rp 16 billion from PT Angkasa Pura II.

"So far we have not received the money. We have not made any agreement with PT Angkasa Pura II in regards to the community development program."