Assembly deputy speakers blow US$54,000 in 10 days
Assembly deputy speakers blow US$54,000 in 10 days
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A 10-day trip by six deputy speakers of the People's Consultative
Assembly to a number of European countries cost a whopping
US$54,000, at the very least, according to an official.
Assembly secretary-general Rahimullah said on Monday that the
money used to finance the official visit was partly taken from
the state budget.
The daily allowances paid to Assembly deputy speakers is set
in a decree of the finance minister. For example, the daily
allowances for Assembly deputy speakers visiting England and
France are US$300 and US$210 per day respectively.
"The amount of money for each person for the ten-day visit and
return tickets reached US$9,000," Rahimullah said.
The six deputy Assembly speakers were Oesman Sapta of the
Regional Representatives Faction (FUD), Jusuf Amir Feisal of the
Crescent Star Party (PBB), Cholil Bisri of the National Awakening
Party (PKB), Husni Thamrin of the United Development Party (PPP),
Nazri Adlani of the Interest Group Faction (FUG), and Slamet
Supriyadi of the Military/Police Faction.
Assembly speaker Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party
(PAN), and two deputies, Sutjipto of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), and Ginandjar Kartasasmita of
Golkar, had made overseas visits earlier.
Some media reported that the delegation of deputy speakers,
and their wives, had spent taxpayers' money on hiring limousines
and staying in luxury hotels.
Oesman Sapta said he himself had paid all the extra expenses
of the six Assembly deputy speakers and their wives during their
official visits to England, France, Spain, the Netherlands and
Italy.
According to Oesman, he had done so on the basis of a pledge
he had made to himself.
He recalled that he once suffered from cancer. While receiving
medical treatment, he claims, he promised himself to treat fellow
politicians should he recover his health.
Slamet Supriyadi emphasized that all the Assembly deputy
speakers had paid for their wives out of their own pockets.
Oesman insisted that the visit by the Assembly deputy leaders
was part of the implementation process of an Assembly decree on
economic recovery.
Oesman said the members of the delegation had met their
counterparts and Indonesian representatives in the countries
visited.
The delegation first traveled to London to discuss economic
recovery and then moved to Madrid, Spain, to discuss the
implementation of the bicameral system and regional autonomy.
"Unfortunately, we could not meet with our representatives in
France," Oesman added.
Later, the delegation went to Rome, Italy, to meet Indonesian
ambassador Fredy Numberi, and then traveled to The Hague for a
discussion on economic recovery.
Oesman added that during the visit the delegation had invited
foreign investors to attend a workshop on economic recovery
organized by the Regional Representatives Faction (FUD), which is
scheduled for July 2.
He did not say if any foreign business players would actually
attend the seminar.