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House’s committee washes hands of budget controversy
The House of Representatives’ budget committee (Banggar) has claimed ignorance over an alleged plan to increase the House’s annual budget allocation and use some of it to construct a new building.
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All set: House of Representatives members prepare to attend a plenary meeting at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on July 27. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A.)
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he House of Representatives’ budget committee (Banggar) has claimed ignorance over an alleged plan to increase the House’s annual budget allocation and use some of it to construct a new building despite protests.
Banggar head Aziz Syamsuddin claimed he had no any idea about a plan to use part of the proposed Rp 7.25 trillion (US$543.11 billion) 2018 budget allocation to construct a new building.
“I’ve never heard about the proposal,” he told journalists at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
The Golkar Party politician was referring to a recent statement by Anton Sihombing, the head of the House’s Ways and Means Committee (BURT), on the allotment of this year’s proposed budget, which is also almost double last year’s Rp 4.2 trillion allocation.
In a proposal submitted during a plenary meeting on April 6, BURT proposed that Rp 4.87 trillion of the Rp 7.25 trillion budget be used to support the work of lawmakers while the remainder would be allocated to improve the House’s secretariat.
Anton revealed that some of the funds earmarked to support the work of lawmakers was for the construction of a new legislative building, including better offices for the 560 lawmakers.
Anton claimed that BURT had informed Banggar, which is tasked with approving budget proposals.
Commenting on Anton’s statement, Aziz said BURT had not discussed the matter with the committee. Aziz declined to respond when asked if Banggar would pass the budget proposal if it was presented before the committee. (ebf)
