Councillors ask for Rp 500m in holiday bonuses

Councillors ask for Rp 500m in holiday bonuses

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung

Bandarlampung councillors are proposing that the local government
pay them Idul Fitri bonuses amounting to Rp 500 million
(US$55,500) to be divided evenly among 45 councillors.

The proposal was made during a plenary meeting between
Bandarlampung council and Bandarlampung Mayor Suharto on Friday
last week.

Some councillors claimed that Idul Fitri bonuses were
traditionally given to councillors and this year should be no
exception.

Abdullah Fadri Auli from the National Mandate Party (PAN)
fraction said the bonuses were important to strengthening ties
between the executive and the legislative branches of government.

One councillor who declined to be named acknowledged that the
proposal was sensitive, especially since councillors, regents and
mayors nationwide had been charged with abusing regental or
municipal budgets.

But the mayor could win the favor of councillors without
necessarily being sent to jail, said the councillor, in that the
money could come from sources other than the 2004 municipal
budget.

"The mayor could take money from non-budget funds at several
government agencies in the municipality," the councillor
suggested.

Councillor Made Bagiasa of the Golkar Party supported the
bonus proposal, saying it was reasonable as long as no strings
were attached. "The bonuses cannot be regarded as bribes as they
are not legally binding," he said.

He pointed out that the Lampung legislative council paid its
councillors Idul Fitri bonuses.

"Besides a bonus from the Lampung government, councillors get
a bonus from the Lampung governor every Idul Fitri. Each member
usually gets Rp 2 million," said Bagiasa.

However, other Bandarlampung municipal councillors have said
the proposal is inappropriate.

"Councillors are on a par with the mayor and it is therefore
inappropriate to ask him for money," said Mansyur, a Golkar
councillor. He suggested that the annual practice be stopped.

Besides councillors, heads of government agencies have also
criticized the proposal.

"It would be difficult for us to acquire the funds for
councillors' bonuses. Our agency's budget is spent on routine and
development expenditures. Where would we get the money? Should we
revert to corruption?" asked Edi Suryadi, head of the Lampung
Forestry Office.

He said his office was burdened with bonus proposals every
year prior to Idul Fitri, including from various organizations as
well as journalists.

"Hundreds of reporters' names have been submitted, all asking
for money for Idul Fitri," he said.

He said it would be less of a strain on his agency's budget if
the bonus proposal for councillors were to be rejected.