Political parties get Rp 1b grants

Political parties get Rp 1b grants

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The South Sulawesi provincial
administration has disbursed Rp 1 billion in financial assistance
for 48 political parties, which earned votes in the 1999 general
election.

The funds were taken from the provincial budget, said
Syamsuddin, the head of the administration's Nation Unity Body.

According to Syamsuddin, the assistance was part of the
government's program to boost political education to the people.

The assistance was also to help the political parties to cover
their daily operating costs.

In order to be eligible to earn some portion out of Rp 1
billion funds, political parties had to file a proposal to the
provincial administration, in which the proposal must also attach
the number of votes they collected in the 1999 election. --
Antara