Councilors should return incentives by July

JAKARTA: Incumbent councilors of Jakarta City Council have around two months to return communication incentives to the city administration before their terms end in August.

"Some members have chosen to pay the incentive back in instalments, while others have yet to begin to undertake this responsibility," council public relations chief Zulkarnaen said Friday.

"If they do not return the money on time, they may face sanctions," Zulkarnaen said.

According to Government Regulation No. 21/2007 on the councilors' job structure and financial protocol, councilors receive allowances including a Rp 9 million monthly communication incentive.

This allowance, however was cut by the Home Ministry in January 2009, in a circular stipulating that councilors should return the incentive to the administration.

Of 75 councilors, 25 have paid back amounts of allowances in instalments, the Council's financial division reported.

Council spokesperson Ade Surapriatna said the association of Indonesian legislators had asked the Supreme Justice for a judicial review of the changed regulations. - JP