E. Java councillors slammed over payment rise proposal<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
The East Java administration has proposed a salary increase of
\nmore than 100 percent for provincial legislative council members,
\nprompting enraged criticisms that the local officials lacked a
\ngenuine sensitivity toward the impacts of the prolonged economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
The sharp rise was proposed ahead of the end of the five-year
\nterms of 100 councillors in mid-2004.<\/p>\n
If the proposal is approved, councillors would receive a
\nmonthly take-home pay of as much as Rp 43.6 million (US$5,129)
\neach, compared to their current monthly salary of Rp 19.071
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
In order to accommodate the planned increase, the local
\nadministration must raise the budget allocated for the council to
\nRp 52.3 billion next year, from only Rp 22.8 billion in 2003.<\/p>\n
East Java administration secretary Soekarwo said on Friday
\nthat the proposed Rp 43.6 million salary included a Rp 11.4
\nmillion base salary and allowances, as well as Rp 17.5 million in
\nbudget evaluation fees and Rp 17.5 million in human resources
\ndevelopment funds.<\/p>\n
Soekarwo said the human resources development funds would not
\nbe disbursed every month, unless councillors were undertaking
\nactivities such as working visits to districts and attending
\nwork-related seminars.<\/p>\n
\"The disbursements must be taken into account by the council,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Most East Java councillors apparently did not comment on the
\nproposed increase.<\/p>\n
Councillor Herly Sulistyo of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) did not say whether he opposed or
\nsupported the proposed salary increase.<\/p>\n
\"We leave it to the public to assess. I just want everything
\nto happen transparently and that everyone knows about it,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, he said it was a \"fantastic reality\".<\/p>\n
\"It is an extraordinary increase. When we first began serving
\nas councillors here, we received only Rp 3.1 million in salaries
\nand allowances,\" Sulistyo said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, analysts lashed out at the councillors for showing
\na \"lack of empathy\" and a poor sense of crisis affecting the
\nmajority of the East Java people, who had increasingly been
\nsuffering.<\/p>\n
\"They have difficulties in making decisions on raising the
\nprovincial minimum wages and the salaries of state teachers. But
\nthe councillors easily try to double their own salaries without
\nany feeling of empathy,\" said Rudi Handoko of the Aug. 17, 1945
\nUniversity in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Considering their poor performance, the councillors did not
\ndeserve salary increases, he added.<\/p>\n
\"I think that principally, a pay increase should reflect the
\nperformance and productivity of the individuals under
\nconsideration. So, if the councillors do not perform well, they
\nare not entitled to a salary increase next year.\"<\/p>\n
Rudi said the proposed pay rise for the councillors was
\nconnected to the 2004 elections, though they might not be
\nreelected for another term.<\/p>\n
\"The council members seem to be using the rest of their
\ncurrent term (to earn as much as money before they retire).<\/p>\n
\"Ahead of the 2004 elections, they should have heightened
\ntheir image and performance instead, so their constituents would
\nreelect them next year,\" Rudi said.<\/p>\n
Similarly, legal activist Herlambang Perdana slammed the
\nplanned rise of the councillors' salaries.<\/p>\n
The move obviously did not take into account the continued
\nincrease in the East Java poverty rate, from 6.7 million people
\nin 2002 to 7.2 million people this year.<\/p>\n
\"The more than 100 percent increase in the councillors'
\nsalaries is too much, and tears at the hearts of local people.
\nThis will only increase the public's distrust of politicians,\"
\nPerdana said.<\/p>",
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