Councillors to get new official cars

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by the now-repealed Government Regulation No. 24/2004.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.