Councillors complain about low salary
JAKARTA (JP): City councillors celebrated on Monday their second year in legislature with a "complaint" that they were paid less than their fellow councillors in other provinces.
Council deputy speaker Djafar Badjeber disclosed that their monthly salary of Rp 7 million (approximately US$777) was much lower than the salaries of councillors in the provinces of East Java and West Sumatra, who are reportedly paid Rp 15 million a month.
"It's very small compared to the salaries of our fellow councillors in the two provinces. I heard they received Rp 15 million a month," Djafar, who is also the chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the United Development Party, said.
However, he quickly denied that they were demanding an increase in their monthly salary, which is called an "honorary allowance".
He also claimed that he did not know about a decree issued by Council Speaker Edy Waluyo that reportedly raised their monthly salary from Rp 7 million to Rp 9 million.
"There is no such decree. I have yet to read it," Djafar said.
The councillor's current salary is based on speaker Decree No. 15/1999, specifying that their monthly salary amounts to Rp 7 million before tax.
Separately, a City Hall official who asked for anonymity said that Council Speaker Edy Waluyo had signed a decree to increase the salaries.
"The decree was signed this month," the official said.
Besides receiving a salary, all 85 councillors, except the speaker and his three deputies, receive Hyundai sedans. They also travel abroad at least twice a year. The council speaker and his deputies each receive a Toyota Corolla.
Critic
Meanwhile, chairman of the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) Azas Tigor Nainggolan criticized the councillors for complaining about a low salary.
"They should not ask for a salary hike and other facilities when they have yet to give an impressive performance," Tigor told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said that they were only trying to find opportunities to enrich themselves by demanding a salary increase and other facilities while being a councillor.
He called on political parties to dismiss their representatives in council if they were willing to win the next general election.
"We cannot maintain such councillors any longer. We should ask their parties to dismiss them," he said.
Tigor said that the councillors' performance, such as issuing bylaws, did not benefit the public. He did not elaborate further.
Djafar disagreed with that opinion, saying that they had produced at least 15 bylaws over the past two years.
He said two bylaws on subdistrict councils and an ID card service benefited the general public.
"In the future, we will speed up the issuance of bylaws," he said.
The councillors celebrated their second year in office by holding a dinner party in the lobby of the council building on Monday evening with entertainment provided by the Srimulat comedian group. (jun)