TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Uchok Sky Khadafi, the director of the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) suggested members of the Jakarta Legislative Council to propose programs based on research.

“If council members proposed programs based on research, Ahok wouldn’t accuse them of making up fictive programs,” Uchok told Tempo on Sunday, January 18, 2015.

According to Uchok, all members of the city council have the right to propose programs in the Jakarta Budget plan. However, the programs are frequently viewed as troubled and fictive since they are not based on research.

Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has accused the Jakarta Legislative Council of tampering the Jakarta Budget for 2015 by proposing thousands of programs during the recess. Ahok estimated that budget for the fictive programs reached Rp8.8 trillion (US$733.3 million).

Uchok explained that the legislative council should propose programs that come from people’s aspiration. During the recess, Uchok added, council members should visit their constituents to listen to people’s aspiration and present it at the budget meeting.

However, Uchok added, certain individuals, such as business owners or campaign team of the legislative members, often make special requests to win certain projects.

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