Legislators' salaries unlikely to be raised<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Five hundred new legislators due to be sworn in
\nwhen the House of Representatives changes hands next month will
\nunlikely see a raise in pay after their predecessors leave.<\/p>\n
House secretary-general Afif Ma'roef said yesterday that no
\nsalary hike was proposed.<\/p>\n
He explained that as long as the government applied a tight
\nmoney policy, it would be impossible for him to ask for an
\nincrease in legislators' monthly salaries.<\/p>\n
\"The incoming legislators will earn the same amount of income
\nas their predecessors. It would be very stupid if I suggested a
\nsalary hike while the government copes with the monetary crisis,\"
\nhe said after attending a House plenary session.<\/p>\n
Afif was referring to the government's policy to combat the
\neffects of the currency turmoil prevailing in Southeast Asian
\ncountries in the past two months.<\/p>\n
Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad announced Tuesday that
\nIndonesia would suffer a Rp 9.2 trillion (US$3 billion) deficit
\nin its current budget if the government did not cut spending.<\/p>\n
Legislators currently earn about Rp 4.8 million a month,
\nexcluding extra wages earned while deliberating bills.<\/p>\n
House legislators' salaries are paid from the state budget
\nbased on the House secretariat's budget proposal.<\/p>\n
Some legislators have suggested that new legislators earn
\ntwice of what their predecessors earned.<\/p>\n
S.G.P. Tampubolon of the Indonesian Democratic Party said
\nlegislators should earn Rp 10 million a month if the House was to
\ntruly become an independent body.<\/p>\n
\"Our legislators earn far less than their counterparts in
\nfellow developing countries... for example, Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Salary is just one of many things that determine a quality
\nHouse, but isn't it prestige-boosting conduct if the House treats
\ngovernment officials or businessmen and not vice versa,\" said
\nTampubolon, an outgoing legislator of the budgetary commission.<\/p>\n
A legislator currently earns an extra Rp 700,000 per House
\nsession, up to Rp 3 million during House recess and an average of
\nRp 500,000 for an out-of-Jakarta outing.<\/p>\n
Legislators have received a varied amount for their
\nparticipation in bill deliberations, depending on the ministry
\nthey work with, Tampubolon revealed.<\/p>\n
He said the largest amount he has ever heard of anyone earning
\nin a month was Rp 5 million.<\/p>\n
\"But there are some legislators who ask for more. Those who
\nmaster high-level lobbying skills will ask for contracts worth
\ntrillions of rupiah from a minister,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A letter from the chairman of Commission X for national
\ndevelopment planning, population, and research and technology, M.
\nMuas, said that asking for electronic goods as farewell gifts was
\nthe last case to tarnish the House's image. (amd)<\/p>",
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