Modest lifestyle campaign gets public support<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Public support is mounting for the People's Consultative Assembly
\nleaders who have embarked on a campaign to promote modest
\nlifestyles, and so are the demands that the drive extend to all
\nstate officials.<\/p>\n
Luky Djani, deputy coordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch
\n(ICW), said on Thursday that the officials of state institutions
\nneeded to become involved or else the movement would remain
\nlittle more than rhetoric.<\/p>\n
\"It could serve as a starting point for the effort to build a
\ngood and efficient government. All public money must be spent
\nefficiently,\" Lucky told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and his three deputies said
\non Wednesday they would refuse the luxury Volvo cars to which
\nthey are entitled and royal suites in the five-star Mulia Hotel
\nduring the Assembly's two-day plenary session next week.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said the Assembly leaders wished to set an example of
\nsimplicity and help reduce the burden on the state budget given
\nthat Indonesia has yet to recover from the economic downturn that
\nhas plagued the country since 1997.<\/p>\n
State officials, including lawmakers, have been regularly
\ncriticized for spending too much public money on non-essentials,
\nand their constant hunger for more benefits and facilities,
\nregardless of their sub-par performances.<\/p>\n
Emulating the House members, the members of the General
\nElections Commission (KPU) defied public criticism by making
\nseveral overseas trips, purportedly to disseminate electoral
\ninformation to Indonesian citizens living abroad, despite the
\nfact that they accounted for only 0.8 percent of registered
\nvoters. Previously they had asked for official cars costing Rp
\n300 million (US$32,970) each.<\/p>\n
Some lawmakers hailed the move of the Assembly leaders on
\nThursday, but questioned the sincerity of the campaign.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Agung Laksono appeared hesitant when asked for
\nhis opinion.<\/p>\n
\"That is the business of the Assembly leaders. I think cost-
\ncutting won't be greatly affected by the Volvo cars. The most
\nimportant thing is that we cut the subsidies we provide for the
\nrich, which reach nearly Rp 73 trillion a year,\" Agung, of the
\nGolkar Party, said.<\/p>\n
House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, National Awakening
\nParty (PKB), said the campaign could become a moral force to
\nencourage modest lifestyles among state officials.<\/p>\n
Like the Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, the House of
\nRepresentatives' leaders and Cabinet ministers are also entitled
\nto Volvos.<\/p>\n
In addition, the leaders of the newly-established Regional
\nRepresentatives Council (DPD) are also in line for the luxury
\ncars.<\/p>\n
When Agung and Muhaimin were asked if they would refuse their
\nVolvos, they said they had not discussed the issue.<\/p>\n
Separately, Djoko Susilo, National Mandate Party (PAN),
\ndoubted whether the campaign would be successful.<\/p>\n
\"The refusal to accept the Volvos is merely symbolic. More
\nsubstantial action will be required,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This would include shunning unnecessary overseas trips and a
\nwillingness to use modest cars, like Toyota Avanzas or Daihatsu
\nXenias, which cost less than Rp 100 million.<\/p>\n
Separately, House Secretary-General Faisal Djamal said the
\nprocurement of official vehicles was the responsibility of the
\nState Secretariat.<\/p>\n
\"We have not received the official cars. Possibly, their
\nprocurement will be undertaken after the announcement of the
\nCabinet lineup. All Cabinet ministers are also entitled to
\nofficial cars,\" Faisal said.<\/p>\n
He added that the House secretariat had allocated funds to
\nhelp new legislators, excluding reelected ones, pay their
\naccommodation expenses in Jakarta for about two months from Oct.
\n7 to Nov. 30.<\/p>\n
According to Faisal, each legislator receives Rp 400,000 per
\nday for accommodation and Rp 50,000 for transportation .<\/p>\n
\"The official houses for legislators in Kalibata are being
\nrenovated. We hope the lawmakers can take up residence in these
\nhouses by Dec. 1,\" said Faisal.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/modest-lifestyle-campaign-gets-public-support-1447893297",
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