West Java governor warned against misusing aid

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

West Java councillors have cautioned provincial governor Danny Setiawan against misusing the Rp 225.9 billion (US$265,764) in assistance funds he is proposing, in part, to be used for social and political organizations.

They allege the funds could be channeled to help finance electoral campaigns of the Golkar Party and the United Development Party, both of which supported Danny's gubernatorial nomination earlier this year, ahead of the 2004 elections.

He was elected governor in July.

The governor included the funds in the 2004 budget under deliberation at the West Java legislative council.

The council is scheduled to endorse the budget on Dec. 23 after the governor provides details of the fund's would-be recipients on Dec. 15.

"We need to hear detailed explanations about those who would receive the aid, as the funds could potentially be used for campaigns by certain political parties," councillor Yudi Widiana Adia said on Tuesday.

The governor's proposal indicates the funds would be channeled to assist socio-political organizations, professional institutions, police and legal firms.

Adia said the proposed funds was much larger than similar aid provided in the 2003 budget, at only Rp 39 billion.

She said the proposed allocation was not fair, given that only Rp 230 billion was for education and Rp 180 billion for health, while West Java had a population of 37 million.

Also, the governor had allotted only Rp 39.8 billion toward natural disaster management in the province, which is one of the provinces most vulnerable to floods and landslides.

Councillor Rafani Achyar echoed the warning, saying the social assistance funds could be distributed to particular political parties and their affiliated organizations.

"I suspect that the aid allocation is politically motivated. Therefore, we must monitor the distribution of the funds stringently ... whether they are used for social assistance or other ends," he said.

Rafani also said the Rp 230 billion assistance program intended for 2,000 West Java villages in the proposed budget could be also misused.

"The channeling of Rp 70 billion in assistance for 700 villages in 2003 has not yet been evaluated; now the governor is proposing a much bigger amount for the same program. What's it for?"