S. Sulawesi budget extravagant: NGOs

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)