Agung defends controversial budget for overseas travel<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono defended on
\nWednesday plans to jack up state budget allocations next year for
\nfinancing overseas travel for lawmakers, despite the current weak
\nfinancial state of the government and mounting criticism over the
\neffectiveness of such trips.<\/p>\n
He was quick to add, however, that there would be a more
\nselective process for trips and comparative studies overseas in
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
Agung said that overseas trips were necessary for legislators
\nto boost their lawmaking expertise and function to keep up with
\ntheir working partners in the executive.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, trips for attending parliamentary events cannot be
\nruled out, such as the International Parliamentary Union or the
\nASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Agung said he would consult with the House's inter-
\nparliamentary body to elaborate on planned overseas travel and,
\nif possible, to minimize the budget for overseas travel.<\/p>\n
The House's ways and means committee has earmarked Rp 32.4
\nbillion (US$3.34 million) for legislators' overseas travel in
\n2006, up 100 percent from the Rp 14.06 billion in 2005 and Rp
\n14.1 billion in 2004.<\/p>\n
The request is contained in a 2006 budget draft proposal,
\nwhich also includes a request to increase allowances for all 550
\nHouse members.<\/p>\n
The latest proposal will be discussed by the House budgetary
\ncommittee before being submitted later to the Ministry of
\nFinance.<\/p>\n
Budgetary committee member Djoko Susilo said he was of the
\nopinion that many overseas trips could be cut if the objectives
\nof such trips could be achieved through less expensive means.<\/p>\n
\"I've proven there are less expensive ways to achieve
\nobjectives, such as exchanging expertise or opinions with other
\nlegislature members, or to compare works,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Djoko said many international civil organizations, such as
\nUNESCO, were willing to facilitate meetings between members of
\nparliament.<\/p>\n
\"It's much less expensive to read books in libraries or browse
\nthrough the Internet. We can invite experts and I'm sure many are
\nwilling to share their expertise without us having to go to far
\naway countries,\" said Djoko, an outspoken legislator from the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
He said he would oppose the planned increases.<\/p>\n
The House has been a target of criticism once again after two
\nof its bodies went ahead with their plans to visit foreign
\ncountries for \"comparative studies\", which would cost billions of
\nrupiah.<\/p>\n
Members of the House's legislative body plan to visit the
\nUnited States and France, while the ways and means committee
\nplans to go to Thailand and South Korea.<\/p>\n
Observers have said that most of these trips in the past have
\nnot yielded concrete results, let alone increased legislators'
\nexpertise and skill in representing the people.<\/p>\n
The request, they said, could not have come at a more
\ninappropriate moment since the country was struggling to cope
\nwith ballooning fuel subsidies and widespread health problems.<\/p>\n
Results of domestic and overseas trips are usually reported
\nduring House plenary sessions.<\/p>",
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