Cash crunch cuts into MPR perks

Cash crunch cuts into MPR perks

JAKARTA (JP): Billions of rupiah are being shelled out for the
Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), even
as Jakartans struggle to cope with the economic crisis and steel
themselves for possible unrest.

Are there are perks and freebies left for the nation's chosen
few in these straitened times?

"Oh yes, there is a free massage service," said Afif Ma'roef,
secretary-general of the Assembly (MPR)/House of Representatives
(DPR).

"Use a steamroller!"

The retired two-star Army general laughed and added that any
extras to the daily business of the session came at a price.

"Of course, they (MPR members) have to pay."

Afif spoke to journalists in his office on Thursday about
preparations by his 1,400-strong workforce for the four-day MPR
session, which kicks off on Tuesday and ends Friday.

Assembly members began to check into the designated hotels --
Jakarta Hilton International and Mulia Senayan, both holding
five-star ratings -- over the weekend.

Hilton public relations manager Dewi Widyanti said on Friday
that 400 rooms in the main building and the Lagoon and Garden
towers were allocated for the four factions excluding Golkar.

The hotel has 1,104 rooms.

Mulia public relations manager Daddo Parus said 606 rooms,
including four suites were booked for the Golkar delegation,
apart from rooms for organizers.

"We have 1,008 rooms and all are taken from Nov. 7 to Nov.
15."

It is unclear who will get to bed down in the suites, which
are usually US$280, plus 21 percent tax and service charge, per
night. Daddo said "all services" in the suites were included in
the room charge.

For most legislators, the government's cash crunch means few
perks are expected.

Afif said there would be no new suits because those provided
for the legislators for the March 1998 MPR General Assembly were
still in peak condition.

The excitement may come in the session itself because some
legislators are more courageous in speaking up since Soeharto was
forced to resign from the presidency in May on a wave of public
discontent.

Session fireworks, if they ignite, will be a marked departure
from past humdrum sessions, in which many legislators were often
observed dozing off.

Afif said each legislator would receive the same daily
allowance set for last March's MPR session of a Rp 60,000 (now
US$7.5) daily allowance plus a lump-sum honorarium of Rp 600,000.

The budget for the much shorter session this time is Rp 13.5
billion, compared to Rp 44.7 billion for the 11-day March
session.

Afif professed to forgetting the expenditure details from
March. However, more than Rp 16 billion was earmarked for
accommodations of members at four luxury hotels last time around.

The hotel public relations managers declined to mention the
rate for the legislative camps.

"It's our clients' confidentiality," Dewi said.

"If I tell you, I am afraid it could affect the rate of our
rooms in the future," Daddo vouched.

The standard rate at Mulia is Rp 650,000 per night, while the
Hilton's is Rp 500,000. Both rates are exclusive of the 21
percent tax and service charge.

Afif promised: "Once the budget's been used, we'll be
transparent (in reporting it)."

He said an outstanding amount of Rp 2 billion from the budget
for last March was returned to the state coffers.

The upcoming session will have fewer promotional stalls in the
Assembly lobby.

"But we'll try to get some jamu (traditional herbal tonic)
stalls," Afif said, referring to some of the most popular stalls
from March.

Afif admitted that several small-scale traders feeling out
business opportunities ultimately came away discouraged.

"We just told them that we would not cover their losses if
something bad happened," Afif said.

Then again, if verbal pyrotechnics do occur in the session, a
killing could be made in soothing massage and herbal tonics for
harried legislators. (edt/01/aan)