J

AKARTA: The Coalition of Students and People of Tasikmalaya (KMRT) from West Java and Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) have submitted a report alleging a link between corruption and the distribution of the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) for the education sector in the regency in 2007.

The central government and the regency administration allocated Rp 35 billion (US$3.4 million) to improve facilities at 140 elementary schools in Tasikmalaya, however the KMRT claims that corruption linked to the distribution of those funds cost the state Rp 1.7 billion in losses.

"We suspect the former education agency head, Abdul Kadir, misused 3 percent of the special fund by intervening in its distribution. He appointed the suppliers, whereas the fund was supposed to be handed over to the schools," a researcher from ICW, Febri Hendri, told reporters at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building Thursday.

He said because of this interference, the school committees were unable to manage the funding as outlined by the government under the 2007 Education Ministry decree on the implementation of DAK and various regulations.

The regulations stated that DAK funding must be self-managed by the institutions receiving the assistance.