The Rp 7 billion mansion<\/p>\n
The success of Indonesia's economic development efforts of the
\nlast two decades has of late made many of us accustomed to seeing
\nadvertisements offering pricey housing projects with homes that
\ncost from several hundred million rupiah up to two billion. Of
\ncourse, in a country with an annual per capita income of only
\nUS$920 and some 25 million people still living below the poverty
\nline, only a handful of people can afford to own a Rp 2 billion
\nmansion.<\/p>\n
So, we cannot hide our astonishment upon reading a report that
\nthe construction of a new official residence for the provincial
\ngovernor of Central Java in Semarang may cost Rp 7 billion, or
\nthe equivalent of roughly $3.128 million.<\/p>\n
According to the report, the initial budget for the
\nconstruction of the mansion was \"only\" Rp 4 billion. But due to
\nsome design changes, among others a decision to use Italian
\nmarble flooring instead of a local product, the cost has shot up
\nto Rp 7 billion. The additional cost is reportedly also due to a
\nplan to build two special guest rooms for the President and the
\nVice President if they happen to visit Semarang and want to stay
\novernight.<\/p>\n
The report also says that the plan has been rejected by the
\nbudget committee of the provincial legislative council because it
\nviolates the standard price level for such a project, set by the
\nNational Planning Agency (Bappenas). The council has also set up
\na special committee to further evaluate the plan.<\/p>\n
The idea of having to build special rooms for the President
\nand Vice President in case they want to stay in Semarang, borders
\non the absurd. How many nights have the President and Vice
\nPresident ever stayed over in Semarang? Does that number justify
\nbuilding special guest rooms?<\/p>\n
We can foretell that if the rooms are built they will be
\nunused most of the year because the rightful users are not there
\nto inhabit them. This can be easily predicted because, in line
\nwith Javanese custom, nobody else will dare to sleep in them for
\nfear of being disrespectful.<\/p>\n
The point is that the fact that plans are afoot to build a Rp
\n7 billion mansion for a provincial governor is yet another
\nindication that some people here are totally indifferent to the
\npublic's feelings. Or perhaps those people have become so
\ncalloused that they have lost their sensitivity to the fact that
\na large portion of our people are still poor. To a large number
\nof Indonesian people, to even see one million rupiah is beyond
\ntheir wildest dreams.<\/p>\n
We must remember that Central Java has its share of the
\nnation's least developed villages, which are getting Rp 20
\nmillion in subsidies yearly from the central government. We
\nassume Rp 7 billion would help a lot in the efforts to eradicate
\npoverty in the province.<\/p>\n
Given the dominant position of the executive branches of
\ngovernment in our current system one might expect the objections
\nraised by the local legislative council to be ignored. Except, of
\ncourse, if some element of the higher executive branch, for
\ninstance the Ministry of Home Affairs, or the chairman of
\nBappenas, decides to intervene due to public concern over the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
It seems reasonable, therefore, that the Minister of Home
\nAffairs should take a firm stand on this matter.<\/p>\n
We are living at a time when a growing number of people are
\nbecoming sensitive to social issues. The public is already
\nembittered by the widening of gap between the rich and the poor.
\nIn some cases this dissatisfaction has reached a point of
\nfrustration. To continue to build the Rp 7 billion governor's
\nmansion will not only hurt feelings but may strengthen the
\ngrowing outrage at injustice in society.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-rp-7-billion-mansion-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}