DPR members complain about free furniture

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After having their official residences renovated, members of the House of Representatives recently received furniture and electronic appliances for their official houses in the Kalibata residential complex in South Jakarta.

However, some of legislators are upset that the furnishings do not meet their high standards and plan to summon House secretary- general Faisal Djamal over the matter.

The approximately 25 items received included a 29-inch flat- screen TV, a two-door refrigerator, an air conditioner, gas stove, dining table, sofa, bed and cupboard.

"We had the furniture and (electronic) appliances put in our official houses. However, I regret the poor quality of the furniture. We will question the House secretary-general," Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin of the United Development Party (PPP) told The Jakarta Post here on Sunday.

Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said the House secretary-general must be held accountable for the procurement of the furnishings.

"The quality of the furniture is so bad that the door of the cupboard cannot be closed," Djoko said. "The air conditioner is also very noisy."

Lukman doubted the items would last the five years of the legislators' term. Both Lukman and Djoko said the quality of the furniture was worse than in the past.

Djoko added that he and fellow legislators would meet with House Speaker Agung Laksono before summoning the House secretary- general.

In addition to complaining about the quality of their furnishings, some legislators also are disappointed with the renovation of their official residences.

Renovation work took place in December, after the outgoing legislators vacated the residences.

Faisal Djamal could not be reached for comment on Sunday, but he said in September his office had allocated Rp 41 million (US$4,400) to procure new furnishings for the houses.

The old furnishings were considered old and in need of replacement. The outgoing legislators were allowed to take home the furnishings with a payment of Rp 3.9 million to the House Secretariat.

He added that the House Secretariat also had allocated Rp 2.5 million per month per house for the maintenance of the homes.