Officials to use taxpayer money for haj

TANGERANG: Thirteen Tangerang regency councillors received sharp criticism over their plan to go on haj pilgrimage using the administration's money.

The regency Ulemas Council (MUI) secretary Rasna Dahlan has recently sent a letter to the council chairman, saying that the councillors should use their own money.

"Councillors are the persons who can afford the pilgrimage with their own money. So, why should they use the money taken from the annual budget?" she told The Jakarta Post on Monday, referring to the money which is allocated for religious affairs through the regency social affairs office.

Two of the 13 councillors planned to go on haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by the end of the year, while 11 other councillors would depart for umroh (small haj pilgrimage) in September. Each of the trips will cost Rp 17.5 million.

Criticism also came from the non-governmental organization Forum Lintas Pelaku and the Tangerang regency branch of the National Youth Committee (KNPI).

"The councillors' plan to go on pilgrimage using people's money is really immoral and annoying," said KNPI chairman Achmad Jaelani.

In response to the criticism, regency council speaker Dadang Kartasamita said the council would discuss the issue with the regency social affairs office and the property management body. --JP