Students demand W. Sumatra budget review

PADANG, West Sumatra: Dozens of students in Padang are picketing the West Sumatra legislative building demanding council members to revise current provincial budget (APBD), that they say offers too many financial benefits to lawmakers.

The students who come from Andalas University, Padang State University, Bung Hatta University, and Eka Sakti University, are particularly questioning budget allocation for the welfare of council members in the on-going budget, which stands at Rp 453 billion.

In the current budget, Rp 1.7 billion has been allocated for insurance of 55 council members and Rp 1.32 billion for councillor's welfare.

"How come the provincial budget is so easily corrupted by councillor members," students field coordinator Rustam Effendi said.

"This is clearly corruption," said Elwi Dhanil, legal expert from Andalas University.

Meanwhile, DPRD chairman Arwan Kasri said the budget was made based on standard procedures and mechanism stipulated in prevailing laws.

"If there are mistakes we will rectify them," he said. --JP