Sutiyoso orders officials to limit trips, cut spending
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)