Students activists bothered by councils request for better cars

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon

As the country prepares to increase fuel prices, the Cirebon City Council has proposed to the regental administration that 1.5 billion (US$150,000) be budgeted for the purchase of upmarket cars for several council members, including a Toyota Altis and two Honda CRVs.

Student leaders, however, have criticized the timing of the proposal, saying it comes as the nation poorest's people struggle to cope with the imminent fuel price rises.

Cirebon council speaker Tasiya Soemadi Al Gotas confirmed that the budget had been proposed to the government but said the cars were not an unnecessary luxury.

Commenting on the plan, a student activist said the councillors were arrogant for not siding with the common people. Rather than working to improve the people's welfare the councillors had ignored the growing sense of crisis by thinking only of themselves, said Cirebon Student Activist Forum chairman Lukmanul Hakim.

Another student activist, Awaludin, from the Indonesian Nationalist Student Movement (GMNI) said the cars were a waste of state funds.

"The Suzuki Escudo and Toyota Kijang official cars are more than adequate, there is no reason for them to buy new ones," said Awaludin.

Cirebon regency is one of the largest regencies in West Java. Twenty percent of its population of 2 million live below the poverty line.

The government plans to raise fuel prices on Oct. 1. As the date approaches, fuel scarcities have been reported across the country, including Cirebon.