Sutiyoso orders officials to limit trips, cut spending

JAKARTA (JP): Following President Soeharto's order that the government tighten its belt, Governor Sutiyoso announced yesterday that his office would also limit official trips in a bid to cut spending.

Sutiyoso said the restriction would include local and overseas trips. Officials would only be sent on very important business and without their spouses or other family members.

"Actually, since the beginning of my tenure, I've stressed that unnecessary trips should not be authorized because it's just a waste of the city budget.

"I myself will reduce my official trips, particularly if they are unnecessary."

On Wednesday, President Soeharto ordered cabinet ministers and heads of government agencies to avoid all unnecessary spending and crack down on corruption and abuses of power in their respective offices.

The President also called on officials to restrict local and overseas trips and prohibited them from using state money to pay for spouses or family members to accompany them on working trips.

A city councilor praised Sutiyoso yesterday for putting the President's order into action.

The head of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction, Lukman Mokoginta, said: "I do not say that the city administration does not need to take official trips. If it's necessary then why not, but do it with a spirit of efficiency."

Lukman said duties such as visiting people in rural areas were important because officials should maintain contact with the public.

"Expenses for the trips can be minimized by not staging any special ceremonies.

"All ceremonies cost money. I think a trip involving a hasty inspection is more efficient because it doesn't require tents to be erected or food to be served to the officials and it will automatically reduce expenses."

Lukman agreed with Sutiyoso's decision to forbid the wives and family members of officials from accompanying them on official trips.

"We are experiencing an 'unusual' situation with the monetary crisis now so we should also act in an 'unusual' way," he said. "If we are used to a more glamorous way of life, now we should leave such behavior behind." (ind)