E. Java councillors slammed over payment rise proposal

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The East Java administration has proposed a salary increase of more than 100 percent for provincial legislative council members, prompting enraged criticisms that the local officials lacked a genuine sensitivity toward the impacts of the prolonged economic crisis.

The sharp rise was proposed ahead of the end of the five-year terms of 100 councillors in mid-2004.

If the proposal is approved, councillors would receive a monthly take-home pay of as much as Rp 43.6 million (US$5,129) each, compared to their current monthly salary of Rp 19.071 million.

In order to accommodate the planned increase, the local administration must raise the budget allocated for the council to Rp 52.3 billion next year, from only Rp 22.8 billion in 2003.

East Java administration secretary Soekarwo said on Friday that the proposed Rp 43.6 million salary included a Rp 11.4 million base salary and allowances, as well as Rp 17.5 million in budget evaluation fees and Rp 17.5 million in human resources development funds.

Soekarwo said the human resources development funds would not be disbursed every month, unless councillors were undertaking activities such as working visits to districts and attending work-related seminars.

"The disbursements must be taken into account by the council," he said.

Most East Java councillors apparently did not comment on the proposed increase.

Councillor Herly Sulistyo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) did not say whether he opposed or supported the proposed salary increase.

"We leave it to the public to assess. I just want everything to happen transparently and that everyone knows about it," he said.

However, he said it was a "fantastic reality".

"It is an extraordinary increase. When we first began serving as councillors here, we received only Rp 3.1 million in salaries and allowances," Sulistyo said.

Meanwhile, analysts lashed out at the councillors for showing a "lack of empathy" and a poor sense of crisis affecting the majority of the East Java people, who had increasingly been suffering.

"They have difficulties in making decisions on raising the provincial minimum wages and the salaries of state teachers. But the councillors easily try to double their own salaries without any feeling of empathy," said Rudi Handoko of the Aug. 17, 1945 University in Surabaya.

Considering their poor performance, the councillors did not deserve salary increases, he added.

"I think that principally, a pay increase should reflect the performance and productivity of the individuals under consideration. So, if the councillors do not perform well, they are not entitled to a salary increase next year."

Rudi said the proposed pay rise for the councillors was connected to the 2004 elections, though they might not be reelected for another term.

"The council members seem to be using the rest of their current term (to earn as much as money before they retire).

"Ahead of the 2004 elections, they should have heightened their image and performance instead, so their constituents would reelect them next year," Rudi said.

Similarly, legal activist Herlambang Perdana slammed the planned rise of the councillors' salaries.

The move obviously did not take into account the continued increase in the East Java poverty rate, from 6.7 million people in 2002 to 7.2 million people this year.

"The more than 100 percent increase in the councillors' salaries is too much, and tears at the hearts of local people. This will only increase the public's distrust of politicians," Perdana said.