Councillors complain about low salary<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City councillors celebrated on Monday their
\nsecond year in legislature with a "complaint" that they were paid
\nless than their fellow councillors in other provinces.<\/p>\n
Council deputy speaker Djafar Badjeber disclosed that their
\nmonthly salary of Rp 7 million (approximately US$777) was much
\nlower than the salaries of councillors in the provinces of East
\nJava and West Sumatra, who are reportedly paid Rp 15 million a
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
"It's very small compared to the salaries of our fellow
\ncouncillors in the two provinces. I heard they received Rp 15
\nmillion a month," Djafar, who is also the chairman of the Jakarta
\nchapter of the United Development Party, said.<\/p>\n
However, he quickly denied that they were demanding an
\nincrease in their monthly salary, which is called an "honorary
\nallowance".<\/p>\n
He also claimed that he did not know about a decree issued by
\nCouncil Speaker Edy Waluyo that reportedly raised their monthly
\nsalary from Rp 7 million to Rp 9 million.<\/p>\n
"There is no such decree. I have yet to read it," Djafar said.<\/p>\n
The councillor's current salary is based on speaker Decree No.
\n15\/1999, specifying that their monthly salary amounts to Rp 7
\nmillion before tax.<\/p>\n
Separately, a City Hall official who asked for anonymity said
\nthat Council Speaker Edy Waluyo had signed a decree to increase
\nthe salaries.<\/p>\n
"The decree was signed this month," the official said.<\/p>\n
Besides receiving a salary, all 85 councillors, except the
\nspeaker and his three deputies, receive Hyundai sedans. They also
\ntravel abroad at least twice a year. The council speaker and his
\ndeputies each receive a Toyota Corolla.<\/p>\n
Critic<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta)
\nAzas Tigor Nainggolan criticized the councillors for complaining
\nabout a low salary.<\/p>\n
"They should not ask for a salary hike and other facilities
\nwhen they have yet to give an impressive performance," Tigor told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said that they were only trying to find opportunities to
\nenrich themselves by demanding a salary increase and other
\nfacilities while being a councillor.<\/p>\n
He called on political parties to dismiss their
\nrepresentatives in council if they were willing to win the next
\ngeneral election.<\/p>\n
"We cannot maintain such councillors any longer. We should ask
\ntheir parties to dismiss them," he said.<\/p>\n
Tigor said that the councillors' performance, such as issuing
\nbylaws, did not benefit the public. He did not elaborate further.<\/p>\n
Djafar disagreed with that opinion, saying that they had
\nproduced at least 15 bylaws over the past two years.<\/p>\n
He said two bylaws on subdistrict councils and an ID card
\nservice benefited the general public.<\/p>\n
"In the future, we will speed up the issuance of bylaws," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The councillors celebrated their second year in office by
\nholding a dinner party in the lobby of the council building on
\nMonday evening with entertainment provided by the Srimulat
\ncomedian group. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/councillors-complain-about-low-salary-1447893297",
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