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.