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