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House asks govt to approve constituency funds
Despite its opposition, the House of Representatives has appealed to the government to approve the constituency fund proposal
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Despite its opposition, the House of Representatives has appealed to the government to approve the constituency fund proposal.
The House recently agreed to propose the granting of Rp 11.2 trillion (US$841.26 million) annually to 560 legislators to develop their own electoral districts nationwide.
'The House leadership hopes that the government will agree to accommodate the proposed programs, which have been initiated by the House on the basis of the people's needs,' House Speaker Setya Novanto said in his speech in a plenary session to mark the end of the House's fourth sitting on Tuesday.
Setya argued that the constituency funds were justified.
'Although House factions are at odds over the proposal, the proposal comes from the House, regional administrations and the people's aspirations in electoral districts,' he said.
The proposal has drawn strong opposition both from the government and civil society groups who have called on the people not vote for parties supporting the constituency funds proposal in the upcoming simultaneous local elections.
A member of the Presidential communication team Teten Masduki said on Monday that the government would not allocate the constituency funds in the 2016 draft budget.
'It is final. There will no constituency funds in 2016,' he said. (rms)(++++)
