Officials slammed for visiting Jakarta

JAMBI: After criticism of regents and governors, now the heads of local government agencies are being slammed for abandoning their posts to travel to Jakarta on pleasure trips.

The unofficial visits were unacceptable as they were a waste of money and made at the taxpayer's expense, said a non- governmental activist in Jambi.

The high number of unofficial visits could be seen from a visit to Sultan Thaha Airport in Jambi, where agency heads were often to seen waiting for flights to Jakarta, said Sofyan.

The latest criticism comes after a statement by Minister of Home Affairs Mohammad Ma'ruf condemning many regents and governors for preferring to shuttle back and forth to Jakarta without good reasons, leaving their administrations in limbo. The local leaders usually visited Jakarta for pleasure or to visit relatives. -- Antara