How costly was your campaign?<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
On the opening day of the 22-day campaign period, a legislator
\ndisclosed that he had spent Rp 75 million in one day to buy the
\nflags and symbols of his party for strategic display in the city,
\nas well as free T-shirts for supporters.<\/p>\n
As a party member, the source, who declined to be identified,
\nsaid that he had been obliged to do so, to show his commitment to
\nthe leader of his party which kicked off the campaign season.<\/p>\n
One candidate from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Djoko
\nSusilo, said that more money had been spent this year on door-to-
\ndoor campaigning. Djoko, who sits on Commission I in charge of
\ngovernmental affairs, is contesting again for his party, for the
\nSurabaya and Sidoarjo electoral districts of East Java.<\/p>\n
Some other legislators had to spend additional money to hire
\ndangdut singers to attract people to their rallies.<\/p>\n
Another legislator acknowledged that he \"only\" spent Rp 300
\nmillion for the whole three-week campaign period. \"Compared to
\nthe spending of other candidates, mine is of a very small scale,\"
\nGolkar candidate Baharuddin Aritonang told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He added that the money was spent on purchasing T-shirts,
\ncalendars and pamphlets.<\/p>\n
The public is quick to question why the legislators, some of
\nthem also candidates for another term, are so willing to fork out
\ncampaign funds. Can they expect fame and fortune from a seat in
\nthe House of Representatives?<\/p>\n
A legislator who had served in the House (DPR) for the past
\nfour years acknowledged that several of his colleagues used their
\npositions for personal gain.<\/p>\n
However, he said, some argued that they were merely seeking
\nsome of the money that they had spent on campaigning back, now
\nthat they were in office.<\/p>\n
The monthly salary of Rp 15 million for House members has been
\ndeemed insufficient by many legislators.<\/p>\n
Serving on one of the Houses's special committees, which
\ndeliberate bills and investigate designated affairs of state is
\none way of generating extra income. A legislator gets Rp 5
\nmillion for joining such a committee.<\/p>\n
High attendance at the House would also mean more income for
\nlegislators. Their attendance is worth Rp 150,000 to Rp 300,000
\nper meeting. Thus far, though, the emphasis has been on the
\nattendance record, or the legislators' signatures rather than
\ntheir actual attendance. This has been indicated by the many
\ninstances of largely empty rooms in the House during several
\ndeliberations on bills.<\/p>\n
Those whom the legislators represent are not convinced that
\nclaims, such as \"recouping costs for past campaigns\", are not
\njust excuses for sheer greed. The controversy over the sale of
\nstate assets under the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency
\n(IBRA) highlighted, among other things, the role of legislators
\nas \"brokers\" who were in the favorable position of gaining
\nfirst-hand information on the sales, for which they received fees
\namounting to \"billions of rupiah,\" a source in the House said.<\/p>\n
Legal expert Sri Soemantri said that legislators should
\nunderstand that deliberating laws and legislations is their duty.
\n\"They get paid to discuss those laws. They must not abuse their
\nposition for personal gain,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Djoko from PAN denied suggestions that he would seek to recoup
\ncosts should he be elected for another term.<\/p>\n
\"I am not a trader. For me, becoming a legislator is about
\nserving the people. Therefore, legislators must be ready to
\nsacrifice what they have,\" he added.<\/p>",
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