Generous pay, pathetic performance<\/p>\n
Oh the irony that has overwhelmed the country for the past few
\nmonths. Government and state officials, apparently without any
\nsense of crisis, have stuffed generous salary increases into
\ntheir already bulging wallets. The performance of these happy,
\nhappy officials, however, is still eclipsed by their skyrocketing
\nsalaries.<\/p>\n
What performance, one may ask? Firstly, let's look at what the
\nAceh Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR) has achieved
\nduring the past year. About 110,000 tsunami victims have been
\nliving in makeshift tents waiting for appropriate and permanent
\nshelters. The BRR has so far built about 26,000 homes.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, its chief receives Rp 76 million a month -- a
\nsalary higher than the President's -- and a minister's, while his
\ndeputies get Rp 56 million.<\/p>\n
Then there is the Bank Indonesia chief who sought a Rp 2.5
\nbillion (US$ 272,300) salary a year -- his deputy governors
\nwanted a little less. Did they not remember the country's
\neconomic woes earlier in the year? Soaring world oil prices that
\ndampened our currency to its lowest ever rate against the
\ngreenback? What did BI do to safeguard the rupiah? The requested
\npay was even higher than the U.S. President, who receives only
\n$200,000 a year!<\/p>\n
Then there was the state oil and gas company PT Pertamina's
\npresident director receiving Rp 150 million a month, with his
\ndeputies getting Rp 140 million each and their commissioners half
\nthat amount. So how is PT Pertamina going? As world oil prices
\nsoared and oil-producing countries reaped windfall profits,
\ninternational squabbles and inaction meant the company
\nexperienced shrinking production. Then there were the chaotic
\nfuel shortages nationwide, not to mention the various corruption
\nallegations -- like fuel smuggling -- that still hang over it.
\nThe guys at the top deserve a bonus, I reckon.<\/p>\n
Of course, the House of Representatives (DPR) members and
\nleaders whose pay rise had been okayed months earlier from around
\nRp 24 million -- the 1999-2004 salaries -- to Rp 50 million had
\nalso recently been given an additional bonus of Rp 10 million,
\nmeaning their take home pay was around 60 million a month, sans
\ncorruption, of course. Many had noted their earlier promise to
\nenact 55 bills into law in 2005, unfortunately, they fell far
\nshort of this target. Of course they did; the members were far
\ntoo preoccupied with their own businesses and overseas trips.<\/p>\n
That's why it's time to strongly support President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono's plan to restructure government officials pay
\n-- so what they receive is comparable with the responsibilities
\nthey shoulder.<\/p>\n
M. RUSDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/generous-pay-pathetic-performance-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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