Jakarta – Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz has blamed the government of former president Suharto for nationwide flooding, saying the regime had been too corrupt to ensure good environmental planning.

"It is extremely irrational if the current government is blamed. We need to say this, not as an excuse to avoid responsibility," Haz was quoted by Monday's Jakarta Post as telling his party supporters during a rally at Cirebon in West Java on Sunday.

Haz said widespread corruption during more than three decades under Suharto had led to unplanned development, which has been partly blamed for this month's floods.

Some 150 people have been killed nationwide by floods or landslides following heavy rain.

It was the second such accusation the vice president had made, after remarks on Friday. "Corruption was everywhere so the quality of development was neglected. One of the worst effects is the current flooding," he said Friday.

On Friday Haz called on the government of West Java province to halt development of the mountainous area south of the Indonesian capital, where many of the city's rivers rise, so the area can act as a water catchment area. The mountainous area has been overbuilt with luxurious villas and resorts.

"There should be no further development of luxurious villas or other projects that could damage the Puncak-Bogor zone. I ask that these areas be restored to their original functions as catchment areas," Haz said. "The New Order had neglected this," he said, refering to the term for Suharto's rule.

In Jakarta intermittent weekend rain brought floods back to some areas, especially North Jakarta and the outskirts. Some people who had left temporary shelters to go home were now back in the shelters.