DPR members complain about free furniture

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.