SBY denies allegations of using state budget for personal needs

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has denied allegations that he had used state budget to purchase wardrobe and furniture for his private residence in Cikeas, Bogor of West Java.

“I never use a penny from state budget for my wardrobe since 2004,” Yudhoyono said Thursday while opening a limited Cabinet meeting in his office, as quoted by Kompas.com, citing to the year he was first elected as a president.

An NGO, FITRA, reportedly claimed that the President had used the state budget for his annual attire spending worth Rp 893 million and furniture sets priced at Rp 42 billion.

“I have checked. There was indeed a spending for furniture maintenance, but it was not for my private residence,” said the President.

“The expenditure was for buildings inside the State Palace complex, which worth a total of Rp 149 million, not Rp 42 billion as reported,” he added.

The President has ordered State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam to use his rights to reply to counter the false news.