Students protest recess funds

Students protest recess funds

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Dozens of students demonstrated here on
Tuesday to demand North Sumatra councillors return recess funds
allocated to them.

The funds, worth Rp 25 million per councillor (US$2,777), are
disbursed quarterly to help councillors pay for trips to their
constituencies.

The demonstrators said the 84 councillors did not deserve the
funds because the visits were part of their job, adding that the
councillors should be expected to pay for the trips with their
own money.

Councillor Syukran Tanjung defended the funds, which he said
the councillors needed. He said he spent Rp 50 million each
quarter visiting and entertaining his constituents. -- JP