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.