Pare down Jakarta's budget

Pare down Jakarta's budget

As a resident of Jakarta, I thank God and fully support the
resolve of City Council Commission C for city revenue chairman
Amarullah Asbah, to remove nonsensical budget items from the
capital's 2001 draft budget. (Media Indonesia Dec. 5, 2000).

Aside from the made-up budget items reported in Media
Indonesia, we hope that the commission can make a careful and
detailed study of intended corruption or fund wasting through the
draft budget, usually taking the form of supplies of goods and
services or certain projects specially designed to the interests
of the executive ranks of the Jakarta administration,
suppliers/contractors and even some members of the council.

Even in the present reform era, which is claimed to be the era
in which transparency is prioritized and the corrupt mentality
leading to nepotism, collusion and corruption is being
eradicated, the administration does not in the least fear or feel
ashamed to table a draft budget containing chances to wastefully
spend people's money on extravagant living, a life of luxury and
nepotistic, collusive and corrupt practices without in the least
caring about the suffering of people at large.

One striking example is that the budget for the governor is
set as Rp 7.54 billion, namely expenses for the governor's
office, which total Rp 5,737,000,000 -- it is not clear what
these expenses will cover, to the governor's tactical expenses of
Rp 850,000,000 -- it is not clear either what this money will be
used for; perhaps it includes expenses arising from entertaining
high-ranking government officials.

Although it is only stated in the draft budget, isn't it too
much, to say the least, to set a budget for the governor's
official apparel at Rp 40 million a year? A governor does not
have to be dressed like a actor, does he? In fact, a modest
appearance will only make him more respectable as it is in tune
with the present plight of the people and the nation.

It is regrettable that the Jakarta administration still relies
on earthly luxury and worldly glamor in its attempt to earn more
respect from the people without being considerate toward the poor
condition of the lower-class Betawi, who should be prioritized in
their handling with an allocation of an adequate budget.

We are longing for the emergence of leaders with a modest
appearance but a high level on integrity, like Mahatma Gandhi, Ho
Chi Minh, A.H. Nasution, Baharudin Lopa, Yap Thiam Hien, Hoegeng
Iman Santoso, etc. We are yearning to have people who will not in
the least be dazzled by wealth and luxury but who will, instead,
fight to their last breath for the sake of the people.

We thank God that Commission C has not been taken in by the
issue concerning a comparative study made by some councillors
along with the executives of PT TIJA and some officials of the
Jakarta administration, a trip for which Rp 4 billion was
reportedly spent. This amount is much smaller, though, than the
potential amount to be siphoned off through the draft budget. We
hope, therefore, that the Jakarta Council will be able to do away
with all the planned extravagant spending of the people's money
through the draft budget of the Jakarta administration.

H. WISDARMANTO GS

Jakarta