Councillors complain about low salary

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)