Kupang – Activists have urged East Nusa Tenggara provincial council to drop plans to spend Rp 16 billion (US$1.7 million) on renovating the council building.

Sarah Lery Mbuik, Director of the People's Initiative Association, an anti-corruption non-governmental organization, said Monday the council building was still fit for use and suggested the money be used to build village infrastructure instead.

"More than 80 percent of the province's residents live in villages and are living under poverty line. The money could be used to build infrastructure to open up the villages from isoltion," Sarah said.

She added that the administration had projects, before deciding to repair the building. The councillors and provincial administration had no conscience, she said.