Questions on on budget use

BANDUNG: A member of the West Java council's budget committee, Rafani Akhyar, is alleging that Council speaker Eka Santosa bought a Rp 600 million sedan using funds that were allocated for natural disasters in the 2000 provincial budget.

Rafani claimed that "Pak Eka bought a Crown sedan in December last year, and the first person to learn about it was the chairman of the budget commission.

Rafani reportedly became upset when learned of Eka's new plan to buy a Toyota Land Cruiser as his new official car using the 2001 provincial budget.

"Eka has committed a flagrant violation since the car was bought using official funds which were supposed to be used for other purposes," Rafani said on Friday.

Eka, when confronted by journalists about the allegations, remained aloof.

"I did buy the car. But the money was from the budget commission and I know nothing about it," Eka remarked.(25/edt)