Well-paid recess for lawmakers

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 10/19/2006 10:38 AM

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With fewer than half of the 550 members of the House of Representatives having completed expense reports for the recess allowances they received in July, lawmakers are pocketing millions of rupiah more for the upcoming recess that lasts until Nov. 12.

Each lawmaker is expected to receive Rp 35 million (US$3,800) in cash, with the money meant to finance trips home to meet their constituents.

But with the Idul Fitri holiday approaching, some observers question just how much of the money will be used for official activities.

While doubts surround the intentions of the lawmakers, some want more money from the House Secretariat to visit their constituencies.

""The amount is too small. I think the most reasonable amount would be Rp 75 million,"" lawmaker Bursah Syarnubi of the Reform Star Party (PBR) said.

He said larger recess allowances would not only benefit lawmakers, but also the economy.

""Whether we like it or not, the recess funds help spur the growth of local economies, because whenever we visit a place we put on a variety of programs,"" he said.

Lawmaker Emir Moeis of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said if they received more money, legislators could have even more contact with their constituencies.

""The more money we get the wider our reach,"" he said.

House secretary-general Faisal Djamal said only 50 percent of lawmakers had filed expense reports for the recess funds they received last July.

He called on the rest of the legislators to submit their reports to help the House Secretariat complete its bookkeeping.

For the July recess, each lawmakers received Rp 40.5 million to finance trips back to their home bases.

Prior to July, lawmakers received only Rp 11 million each recess.

Speaking during a House plenary session Wednesday, Speaker Agung Laksono called on lawmakers to submit their expense reports before collecting fund for the upcoming recess.

He suggested the House Secretariat not disburse any new funds to lawmakers who have yet to submit their reports.

""There will be a punishment for House members failing to file their reports. The secretary-general knows what the punishment is,"" he said.

Agung said he had already collected his Rp 35 million recess allowance.

""I received it today. I will use it and be accountable for it. I am afraid if I refused to take it, it would cause problems for other House members,"" he said.

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