Councillors to get new official cars
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
After being awarded a Rp 15 million (US$1,595) monthly housing allowance on average, Jakarta councilors received more good news on Friday when the city administration announced it would provide them with new cars.
The provision of the cars, according to officials, was in line with revised government regulations that were expected to be issued soon, which would allow local administrations to provide official cars to councillors.
Council Secretary Ismet H Hasan welcomed the plan, arguing that the issuance of the revised regulations would provide a solid legal basis for giving cars to the 71 councillors, with the money being taken from the city budget.
"I've heard that the revised regulations are already on the desk of the state secretary ready for approval by the President," he said.
The 2005 city budget stands at more than Rp 14 trillion.
Late last year, Governor Sutiyoso refused to provide cars to the councillors, arguing that this was not specifically permitted by the now-repealed Government Regulation No. 24/2004.
These regulations only allowed council leaders to be provided with cars provided by the local administration.
Council Speaker Ade Surapriatna has a Toyota Crown from his previous term while his three deputies are now driving less expensive Toyota Camrys, which were also used by the deputies on the previous council.
"I think the councillors as public representatives deserve official cars so as to allow them to be more mobile and maintain contact with their constituents. At the very least, they should enjoy better facilities than subdistrict heads, who are also provided with official cars by the administration," said Ismet.
Currently, the council only has four buses to transport councillors on official visits.
Ismet added that the procurement of the cars might be included in revisions to the 2005 budget.
He did not specify the types of cars that would be provided, but last year the councillors demanded Toyota Kijang Innova minivans, which cost around Rp 280 million each, meaning that the total cost of the councillors cars could reach Rp 19.8 billion.
Several councillors welcomed the plan, claiming that they need the cars.
"Not all the councillors have cars. Some councillors are in dire need of a vehicle to keep in touch with their constituents," said Rois Hadayana Syaugie of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction.
Meanwhile, Achmad Suaedy of the United Development Party faction promised that the councillors would return the cars to the administration when their terms were up.
"There would be no legal basis for giving away free cars to the councillors. Besides, we simply do not deserve to get the cars for free as they have been purchased with taxpayers' money," he added.
Sutiyoso said that he would approve the purchase of cars for the 71 city councillors should the prevailing regulations permit it.
"I have no problem with the plan as long as it is in line with the regulations," Sutiyoso told reporters at the City Hall.
The revised regulations also reportedly envisage the provision of official residences to councillors. If an administration cannot provide houses, then it must provide a housing allowance.