Students demand W. Sumatra budget review

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