Assembly's plan to meet in Bali draws condemnation<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The plan of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) ad hoc
\ncommittee for constitutional amendment (PAH I) to convene from
\nApril 3 through April 6 in the comfort of five-star Grand Bali
\nBeach hotel in the resort island of Bali has drawn strong
\ncriticism.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Teten Masduki
\ncondemned the plan, saying it clearly shows the lack of
\nsensitivity of the lawmakers.<\/p>\n
\"It is a waste of the state budget. I think Amien Rais
\n(Assembly Speaker) has to stop that plan,\" Teten told The Jakarta
\nPost on Monday.<\/p>\n
If the legislators go ahead with the plan, he said, public
\ndistrust toward the MPR would strengthen.<\/p>\n
Fellow activist Farid R. Faqih of Government Watch (Gowa)
\nagreed with Teten, saying that the decision to go to Bali betrays
\nthe people.<\/p>\n
\"How can they go to Bali when most of the common people live a
\nvery modest life?\" Farid asked.<\/p>\n
Head of the Assembly's meeting bureau Janed Jri confirmed
\nearlier press reports on Monday that the 40 members of PAH I
\nwould meet in Bali from April 3 to April 6 to finalize the
\namendments to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
\"It is the decision of the Ad-hoc committee members. We at the
\nMPR secretariat only follow it up,\" Janed said.<\/p>\n
He added that the legislators had chosen the luxurious Grand
\nBali Beach Hotel as the venue of their meeting.<\/p>\n
Janed denied speculation that the four-day meeting would
\nentail an expenditure of Rp 600 million.<\/p>\n
It is, however, estimated that the meeting would cost tens of
\nmillions of taxpayers money.<\/p>\n
The price of rooms in Grand Bali Hotel range from Rp 500,000
\nto Rp 700,000 per night. It means a total of between Rp 20
\nmillion and Rp 28 million per night for the MPR members for hotel
\nrooms alone.<\/p>\n
The return air fare costs Rp 1.5 million each, totally Rp 60
\nmillion. Their food is also covered during their stay.<\/p>\n
On top of that, Janed said, the ad hoc committee members would
\nreceive an allowance of Rp 350,000 per day consisting of Rp
\n150,000 as a transportation allowance and Rp 200,000 for pocket
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
PAH I member Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa said on Monday that the
\nagenda had been planned long before.<\/p>\n
Instead of using the Assembly building, Agun said, about 40
\nmembers of the committee had agreed to meet in Bali.<\/p>\n
According to Agun, holding the meeting in Bali would save
\nlegislators' energy. \"If we continue the deliberation at the
\nAssembly building, our energy will be used up in the street (in
\ntravel time to and from the Assembly building),\" he added.<\/p>\n
He said that during the previous amendments in 2001 and 2000,
\nlegislators also went to Bandung and the resort area of Anyer in
\nWest Java.<\/p>\n
Teten and Farid said that the lawmakers were only trying to
\njustify their unreasonable plan.<\/p>",
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