DPR and holiday bonuses

I was both surprised and concerned by a report in Republika on Jan. 9, 2001, that a group of legislators from the House of Representatives Commission IV had asked state limited liability enterprise PT Angkasa Pura II for some money as a holiday gift when they paid a visit to this airport management company in early December 2000 and on Dec. 21, 2000. These legislators went to Angkasa Pura twice under the pretext of making a working visit, but actually they were after a "holiday bonus".

If what Mr. Joni Sutjahjono said about this incident is correct, these legislators have committed a shameful act which will only tarnish the reputation of the House. Actually, the House has been striving to remove the negative image of this institution for dozens of years.

To ensure that the House remains on the right track, especially in seeking the truth in such major cases as Bulog- gate, Brunei-gate and the appointment of Supreme Court chief justice, and in connection with the request for a "holiday bonus", allow me to recommend the following:

(1) The leadership of the House must investigate this matter thoroughly.

(2) The leadership of the House must instruct that the "holiday bonus" received by the legislators concerned be returned to PT Angkasa Pura II.

(3) The legislators receiving the holiday bonus must be severely rebuked and reassigned.

(4) The leadership of the House must offer a written apology to PT Angkasa Pura II.

MUHD. RAMZY HASIBUAN

Observer of Economic and Legal Affairs

Jakarta