Rp 5.2b for Situbondo official cars

Rp 5.2b for Situbondo official cars

SITUBONDO, East Java: The local regency administration has came under fire for allocating more than Rp 5.2 billion from the city's budget to purchase new official cars and motorcycles for local officials.

"The local government and the legislative council should be paying more attention to the public interest than competing with each other over parking their luxury cars," director of Situbondo Policy Watch Supriyono said on Monday.

He said there was no reason to replace the official cars of local officials with new ones as they were still in good condition.

However, local legislative council speaker Aqiq Zaman hinted that legislators would approve the allocation of the huge funds for the purchase of new official vehicles.

"If the official car for the Situbondo council chairman were to be replaced by a Kijang LGX, that would be normal. Please try to compare the situation in other regencies, where the official cars for their top councillors are more luxurious than in Situbondo," he said recently.

"Don't forget too that after legislators receive new official cars, their old ones are taken back," Aqiq added.

Under the budget, Aqiq and his deputies will receive Kijang LGXs worth about Rp 155 million each, with the council's five commission chairpersons getting official cars valued at about Rp 80 million each.

Meanwhile, the Situbondo regent, who currently has an Opel Blazer, will receive a Nissan Terano worth around Rp 215 million. --Antara