Assembly's plan to meet in Bali draws condemnation
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The plan of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) ad hoc committee for constitutional amendment (PAH I) to convene from April 3 through April 6 in the comfort of five-star Grand Bali Beach hotel in the resort island of Bali has drawn strong criticism.
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Teten Masduki condemned the plan, saying it clearly shows the lack of sensitivity of the lawmakers.
"It is a waste of the state budget. I think Amien Rais (Assembly Speaker) has to stop that plan," Teten told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
If the legislators go ahead with the plan, he said, public distrust toward the MPR would strengthen.
Fellow activist Farid R. Faqih of Government Watch (Gowa) agreed with Teten, saying that the decision to go to Bali betrays the people.
"How can they go to Bali when most of the common people live a very modest life?" Farid asked.
Head of the Assembly's meeting bureau Janed Jri confirmed earlier press reports on Monday that the 40 members of PAH I would meet in Bali from April 3 to April 6 to finalize the amendments to the 1945 Constitution.
"It is the decision of the Ad-hoc committee members. We at the MPR secretariat only follow it up," Janed said.
He added that the legislators had chosen the luxurious Grand Bali Beach Hotel as the venue of their meeting.
Janed denied speculation that the four-day meeting would entail an expenditure of Rp 600 million.
It is, however, estimated that the meeting would cost tens of millions of taxpayers money.
The price of rooms in Grand Bali Hotel range from Rp 500,000 to Rp 700,000 per night. It means a total of between Rp 20 million and Rp 28 million per night for the MPR members for hotel rooms alone.
The return air fare costs Rp 1.5 million each, totally Rp 60 million. Their food is also covered during their stay.
On top of that, Janed said, the ad hoc committee members would receive an allowance of Rp 350,000 per day consisting of Rp 150,000 as a transportation allowance and Rp 200,000 for pocket money.
PAH I member Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa said on Monday that the agenda had been planned long before.
Instead of using the Assembly building, Agun said, about 40 members of the committee had agreed to meet in Bali.
According to Agun, holding the meeting in Bali would save legislators' energy. "If we continue the deliberation at the Assembly building, our energy will be used up in the street (in travel time to and from the Assembly building)," he added.
He said that during the previous amendments in 2001 and 2000, legislators also went to Bandung and the resort area of Anyer in West Java.
Teten and Farid said that the lawmakers were only trying to justify their unreasonable plan.