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ouse of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto said no apartments would be built for lawmakers, as criticism has been mounting against the controversial House renovation plans.

The House had earlier demanded a 70 percent increase in its state budget allocation next year to Rp 7.2 trillion (US$537.8 million), with some of the funds set to be used to support its plans to build new working quarters for both lawmakers and their staff members and the controversial apartment building.

However, in its proposed 2018 state budget, the government only grants the House Rp 5.7 trillion to support the House’s legislation work, which has long been criticized as sluggish.

“We have decided that we don’t need to build or rent such apartments. This is a final decision,” Setya told reporters on Tuesday, arguing that the existing official residences for lawmakers, located in Kalibata, South Jakarta, were still fit for purpose.

Setya admitted, however, that the House was still pushing for the construction of a new office building for lawmakers to accommodate the growing human resources.

Calls for a postponement of the project were voiced by at least three House factions from both the opposition and the government camp immediately after the government announced its 2018 state budget proposal.

House secretary-general Achmad Djuned revealed that the planned construction work, set to include the office building and a library, would require around Rp 600 billion.

“The construction projects are expected to complete in time for when new lawmakers take office [after the 2019 elections], so
they are the ones who will likely enjoy the new buildings,” he added.