Warna Warni Bali |

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Sat, 07/25/2009 1:49 PM  |  The Archipelago

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has promised to provide the provincial police force with a supporting fund of Rp 10 billion.

The fund is intended to be used to provide cash incentives for officers assigned to carry out routine security patrols.

“If necessary we could allocate more than Rp 10 billion for the supporting fund. We hope this fund will help the police with its operation of maintaining security on the island,” he said on the sidelines of his visit to the Bali Police headquarters on Thursday.

During the visit, Pastika, a retired three-star police general and former Bali police chief, inspected the readiness of the local police force in coping with emergencies.

Pastika stressed that the supporting fund was necessary given the financial condition of the local police force.

“The fund for the daily operation of the force is very small compared to its actual needs,” he said.

For example, each patrol car is allocated a daily operational fund of Rp 10,000.

That amount translates to only 2 liters of gasoline.

“Insufficient operational funds will result in an equally insufficient security arrangement. It’s not a matter of the officers’ commitment, but solely a matter of financial support,” Pastika added.

Pastika explained the Rp 10 billion supporting fund would be taken from the hotel and restaurant taxes collected by the Badung regency and Denpasar municipality.

Both areas host the majority of the island’s tourism facilities.

“This year we expect to collect more than Rp 18 billion from those taxes. We could take Rp 10 billion for the police and use the rest for tourism promotional purposes,” he said.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Teuku Ashikin conveyed his gratitude for the governor’s pledge of financial support. Yet, he stressed the force would always do its best for the island.

“With or without any additional funds we will give our best to maintain the security of the island,” he said.

He said the Bali Police would install 75 CCTV cameras in strategic spots across the island. Currently, there are 27 CCTV cameras in place at Badung and Denpasar.

The local police on Thursday also began distributing leaflets bearing the picture of Noordin M. Top, a most-wanted terrorist, in several traditional markets and road intersections in Denpasar.

Noordin has been widely blamed for masterminding a series of bomb attacks in Bali and other parts of Indonesia.

“I hope members of the public will immediately notify us once they see this man,” said I Gde Arianta, from the East Denpasar Police