West Java governor warned against misusing aid
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?"