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