No comment on Rp 1b swimming pool

No comment on Rp 1b swimming pool

JAKARTA (JP): Bekasi regency officials are keeping quiet about
the construction of a Rp 1.2 billion (around US$6m) swimming pool
at the regent's official residence.

The head of the local development agency, who is believed to
be involved in the project, has been playing hide and seek with
reporters. One of his staff members told reporters on Thursday
that he was attending a legislative council meeting.

The source of the lavish pool's funding remains a mystery, and
many, including legislative council members, are questioning the
local administration's commitment to social issues such as the
eradication of poverty.

The head of the regency information office, Atang Sudjana,
said earlier that the money was coming from the regency budget.
Atang denied yesterday the rumored cost of the project, but would
not reveal the regency's figures.

Chief of the United Development Party faction on the Bekasi
legislative council, Aminulloh Muchtar, said he had no knowledge
of the pool project, adding that the project was never proposed
in the 1995 budget. "Wallahualam" (God only knows), he muttered
when asked where the money was coming from.

The vice speaker of the Bekasi legislative council, Makmun
Haspy, said that if true, the money would be better spent on
developing poor villages. (12/sur)