Gerindra bans members from taking junkets

JAKARTA: The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has forbidden all of its lawmakers at the House of Representatives from going on junkets.

Gerindra secretary-general Fadli Zon said in a press release Wednesday that a national leadership meeting had decided to issue the ban at the suggestion of party patron Prabowo Subianto.

“Lately I’ve been receiving information and demands from Gerindra members all over Indonesia who are concerned about the nation’s condition. The mounting pressures from our constituents have compelled us... to take a firm stance,” Prabowo said in late October.

The House budgets Rp 1.7 billion per year for junkets.

“That kind of spending is an irresponsible waste of the state budget if done without first analyzing how to get the maximum benefits out of the [junkets],” he added.

Amid public protest, members of the House special committee on the Financial Services Authorization Bill (from Commission XI on finance) left for South Korea and Japan on Oct. 31 on a so-called study tour.

The committee for the Housing Bill (from Commission V on infrastructure) left for Russia on Nov. 1. — JP