Shopping spree abroad

From Kompas

While drought-related diseases were claiming hundreds of lives in Irian Jaya and as the current monetary crisis has worsened, it is highly ironic that a number of Dharma Wanita members within the Ministry of Transportation took a pleasure trip to Thailand spending about Rp 1 billion. There has been speculation that the money was taken from the state's Dharma Wanita funds.

I have never ceased wondering that at a time the government must tighten its belt to ease the monetary turmoil, a number of people went on a shopping spree for luxury goods using state money which could have been allocated for more useful things. I do not believe that the money used was their own money, as claimed by Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto.

The Jamsostek case has not been solved and now we hear about the use of Dharma Wanita funds for a pleasure trip. I wonder what will become of this country if such uses of state funds are continued to be allowed. It is indeed in our culture not to solve matters concerning deviant uses of state money. Such matters are shelved to be forgotten.

RATIH LUHWATI

Jakarta