Jakarta, Feb. 20 -- Newly inaugurated West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has decided to allocate funds saved from streamlining nonessential spending to beneficial programs for the community.

The funds are projected to reach Rp6 trillion (over US$368 million) this year.

"So far, efficiency has been understood as budget cuts. In West Java, efficiency means shifting unnecessary spending to essential expenditures," he said after his inauguration in Jakarta on Thursday.

Mulyadi emphasized that budget efficiency will not come at the expense of public services. His administration will only cut unproductive activities, such as overseas travel, comparative studies, and seminars.

He pointed out unreasonable budget allocations, such as Rp730 billio...