Lawmakers pay rise proposal comes under more fire<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The controversial plan to raise the take-home pay of legislators
\ncame in for a further round of criticism on Monday, with
\nobservers warning the money would end up being abused by
\nunscrupulous politicians or political parties.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives members have said additional take-
\nhome pay was crucial to improving their performance, including
\nefforts to improve their contact with constituents in regions
\nacross the country.<\/p>\n
However, House watchdog group Teliti said political parties
\nshould be responsible for financing constituent-based activities
\nbecause they were generally of a political nature.<\/p>\n
"The organization that nominates and controls legislators is a
\nparty. Therefore, all activities connected to maintaining
\nrelations with constituents should be a party's responsibility,"
\nTeliti supervisor Amir Karamoy said.<\/p>\n
In addition to that, Amir said all legislators at regional and
\nnational levels were obliged to give a portion of their take-home
\npay to their parties for running costs.<\/p>\n
"This means that the parties already have the money to pay for
\nthe activities of legislators. It would be unfair if the public
\nends up paying," Amir said.<\/p>\n
The House has proposed in the 2006 state budget that the take-
\nhome pay of its 550 members be increased by between 80 percent
\nand 100 percent.<\/p>\n
If approved, the House speaker and three deputies would each
\nreceive at least Rp 81 million (US$8,350) a month and House
\nmembers would get about Rp 50 million.<\/p>\n
Several legislators have revealed they pay up to 40 percent of
\ntheir salaries in fees to their parties, which they said made it
\ndifficult for them to finance activities, including lobbying and
\ntraveling to the regions.<\/p>\n
Amir said the proposal to increase the take-home pay was a
\nmove by political parties to collect extra funds for this year's
\nregional elections and the 2009 general election.<\/p>\n
Masdar Farid Mas'udi, leader of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization, questioned the timing of
\nthe plan.<\/p>\n
"At a time when the people are struggling to survive day by
\nday; people who lack food, health services and good educations,
\ntheir supposed representatives are busy doubling their salaries,"
\nsaid Masdar.<\/p>\n
He warned that public outrage would grow unless a thorough and
\ntransparent review was made of the proposal.<\/p>\n
"Don't blame others if the people turn to anarchy in response
\nto what the House members are doing," Masdar said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawmakers-pay-rise-proposal-comes-under-more-fire-1447893297",
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