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Anies, Sandiaga criticize Jakarta's low budget spending, policies
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Against corruption -- Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan conveys his anticorruption commitment during an event held to mark International Anticorruption Day in Jakarta on Friday. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
T
he campaign team of Jakarta gubernatorial candidate pair Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno has criticized the provincial administration's low budget spending, highlighting Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's policies, which according to the team are corrupt in nature.
Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Bambang Widjodjanto said as of June this year, Ahok's administration had spent only 33 percent of the city’s budget.
In the first half of 2015, budget absorption was below 25 percent, he went on.
“They had not spent the city's budget but instead they used third-party funds,” said the Anies-Sandiaga campaign team's spokesperson at its secretariat on Jl. Cicurug, Menteng, Central Jakarta on Friday.
Citing an example, Bambang said Ahok’s policy on the extension of floor area ratio (KLB) permits was not in line with the city's spatial planning.
“People can easily violate the KLB limit simply by paying a fine. The violations have been justified through payments to the administration. When they pay a sum of money to the administration, they are considered to have contributed to society,” Bambang said.
He said such a policy was a new a type of corruption. Unfortunately, such practices were still untouchable by prevailing laws, although letting them to continue would be harmful for the country’s capital as well, he went on.
Bambang said he would assist Anies and Sandiaga to fight corruption in Jakarta. “I want to convince the public that I have long fought against corruption and I’m going to help Anies and Sandiaga combat corruption in the city." (ebf)
