House Speaker supports salary hike plan

House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie says that it was reasonoble for ministers to have their salaries raised, regardless of the fact that they have earn hundred times higher than common workers.

"Ministers are responsible for this republic's well-being. We cannot put their salaries in the same level with the minimum regional wage [UMR]. We also cannot see them to be in the same league with factory laborers," he said at the House building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

"In my opinion, with such a great responsibility, they deserve to have better remuneration. However, there is also a need for a clear reward and punishment mechanism for them," he added.

Marzuki is a politician from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party.

Separately, Deputy Speaker Pramono Anung of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that it was essential for the government to consider people's feeling before raising ministers' salaries.

"Ministers have yet to do their job, yet a discussion to raise their salaries already takes place. Is this fair?" he said.

On average, ministers earn Rp 19 million (US$1,900) monthly. However, they also receive other funds, which could worth up to Rp 150 million monthly.(hdt)