Councillors want sweeteners at term's end

Councillors want sweeteners at term's end

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

West Java's legislative council members are apparently demanding
improper benefits just before the end of their five-year term in
office.

Council speaker Eka Santosa wrote twice to the provincial
administration asking the governor to allow he and his fellow
councillors to keep their official limousines as parting gifts
for a fraction of their value.

The two letters -- sent to West Java Governor Danny Setiawan
on Dec. 23, 2003 and Feb. 24, 2004 -- requested a heavily
subsidized price to "pay" for the 26 official cars.

The plan sparked mixed reactions from councillors.

PDI-P faction chairman Rahardi Zakaria rejected the plan,
saying it could blemish the council's good image.

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) councillor Reza Nasrullah was a
bit more frank, saying the plan showed that the council leaders
lacked a sense of crisis and wanted to milk their position to the
last drop. He urged them to cancel it.

"It's outrageous that they're asking for more rewards after
serving as council leaders. It means they've not been sincere
about doing their jobs," he added.

Syarif Bastaman, a member of the council's budget committee,
said on Friday that the cars could be bought for less than 50
percent of the current market price by the councillors.

The 26 cars include a 2002 Toyota Crown sedan with all the
VVIP amenities and an approximate market price of Rp 300 million
(US$34,883).

However, Governor Danny denied having received the request
letters.

He did say that the process of selling such vehicles would be
conducted after the local transportation office examined their
value.

"Usually, such official cars would not be sold, although they
are now five-years-old. Most are in good condition and we cannot
afford to buy new ones," Danny said.

Eka Santosa, also from PDI-P, and a current legislative
hopeful for the national House of Representatives (DPR), claimed
that the planned deal was almost consistent with Circular No.
11/2001 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It states that official cars at the regional administrations,
which are more than five-years-old, can be sold to their users.
It was not clear if there had been a follow-up circular with
stipulations to sell them at a fraction of their actual value or
if the prospective DPR legislator was just assuming that part.

Hasan Zaenal Abidin, who chairs the United Development Party
(PPP) faction at the council, supported the plan to acquire the
limos, and admitted he would personally profit from the deal.

"It would be a blessing for me, even though it's not certain
yet that I will buy my own official car cheaply. If so, I will
sell it again to another buyer," he said gladly.

Budget committee chairman Ketut Sulistawan also agreed with
the plan. "Every thing is already regulated that official cars
above five years of their age can be sold to their users because
the maintenance costs for old vehicles are more expensive, which
means wasting state money," he said.