Money for nothing, perks for free<\/p>\n
A newspaper report said that President B.J. Habibie, through
\nPresidential Decree No. 20 dated May 20, 1999, has determined
\nthat each member of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the
\nperiod 1997 to 2002 will receive an allowance to the tune of Rp
\n150 million for their service to the country, apart from their
\npensions.<\/p>\n
I agree with Amien Rais' protest that the granting of such a
\nhuge amount is wrong. The country is in an economic crisis, so
\nwhy is the President wasting money? In the name of the Indonesian
\npeople, I demand that the presidential decree be revoked and
\nreviewed by the President.<\/p>\n
What is the purpose of granting the money to the House
\nmembers? Did they show great merit to the Indonesian people? If
\nthey served the country well, it was merely their duty to do so.
\nAs the people's representatives, they must dedicate themselves to
\nthe public interest. I think the DPR members are spoiled and have
\nbeen given preferential treatment by the President.<\/p>\n
Consider this:<\/p>\n
a. Thirty million people have no income due to layoffs, 60
\nmillion people are living in abject poverty, experiencing the
\ngreatest difficulty merely to survive. Some have committed
\nsuicide.<\/p>\n
b. Salaries of civil servants and members of the Indonesian
\nMilitary and the Police are relatively low, only enough to live
\non for 10 days a month. Pensions also are low. I am a retired
\ncivil servant of the IV\/E group, the highest on the scale, with
\nservice of 37 years, and receive only Rp 780,000 a month.<\/p>\n
c. In the 1999 general election, the allocation to build
\nvoting booths was only Rp 40,000 each, and the allowance for
\nwitnesses working from morning until night amounted to Rp 4,000
\n(the price of one meal at a sidewalk stall). So community members
\nwere asked for contributions in the context of the organization
\nof the general election at the voting booths. The people must
\nalways shoulder various burdens.<\/p>\n
I propose the following for House members.<\/p>\n
a. The service money for each DPR member should be a maximum
\nof Rp 30 million; the pay upon their retirement should be two
\nfifths of Rp 2.5 million per month.<\/p>\n
b. After the 1999 general election, House members need not
\nwork anymore because of a recess until the formation of the new
\nlegislature. There is no need for new laws.<\/p>\n
c. The establishment of a new House of Representatives
\n\/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR\/MPR) should be expedited, as
\nwell as the MPR general session, if possible to September 1999.<\/p>\n
The people look forward to a new DPR\/MPR, a new president and
\nvice President and a new government in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/money-for-nothing-perks-for-free-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }