E. Java councillors slammed over payment rise proposal

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.