State secretariat slammed for Rp 12.3 billion parking facility

The National Secretariat of the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) has slammed the government for allotting Rp 12.3 billion (US$1.36 million) for the construction of parking facilities at the State Palace.

“The government is having way more luxurious facility compared to what it has provided for the public,” FITRA’s coordinator for advocacy and investigation Uchok Sky Khadafi said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

He said that the budget was four times bigger than a similar project at the House of Representatives compound worth Rp 3 billion.

“It is really concerning. Look at the public facilities that have very minimum maintenance, but for the palace, state money seems to be spent lavishly,” said Uchok.

Previously, FITRA also lambasted the planned renovations of Presidential palaces in Bogor, Cipanas, Jakarta, Tampaksiring and Yogyakarta worth a combined Rp 21.89 billion. (iwa)