S. Sulawesi budget extravagant: NGOs

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Around 20 representatives from non- governmental organizations here went to the provincial council on Monday to demand that councillors withdraw their endorsement of the provincial 2001 budget.

"We demand that the proposed budget submitted by Governor HZB Palaguna be reviewed as many of the allocations are unnecessary," the NGOs' coordinator Syamsuddin said.

The total Rp 395 billion budget was bloated by fees and allowances for executives, he argued.

He charged that the salaries of administration executives, for instance, were now four times higher than under the previous budget.

"It's a high-cost administration while, at the same time, the interests of the people are being neglected," he added.

During a three-hour meeting with the NGOs, the councillors promised to review the budget and to channel the NGOs' aspirations.(27/edt)