Election commission members get new cars
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While the General Elections Commission (KPU) have long complained of a shortage of funds for various needs in running the elections, its budget for official cars seems quite adequate.
Nine members of the KPU including the secretary-general and deputy secretary-general have been given new official cars at a maximum value of Rp 350 million per car or a total of Rp 3.85 billion.
KPU member Chusnul Mar'iyah confirmed on Wednesday that eight KPU members were given the opportunity to choose new official cars within a maximum budget of Rp 350 million per car, except chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, who bought a new car in 2002.
But a reliable source at the KPU said all members, including KPU secretary-general Safder Yusacc and deputy secretary-general Sussongko had obtained new official cars. The source said that the fund was from the 2003 KPU budget.
"KPU has allotted Rp 350 million per person to buy cars, but if a member buys a new car under the maximum allowed budget, the remaining amount has to be returned to the KPU," Chusnul said.
She said that she had bought a Nissan Sentra sedan worth Rp 248.5 million based on data issued by PT Oto Multi Artha.
"It is still in my garage, waiting for the license plate," she said.
Anas Urbaningrum bought a new Toyota Kijang minivan, but was unsure whether it was Kijang Krista, which costs between Rp 177.5 million and Rp 196 million.
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti and another KPU member Rusadi Kantaprawira bought a sedan, a Toyota Camry worth around Rp 350 million.
Valina Singka Subakti also bought a new Corolla Altis sedan, priced at around Rp 279.8 million.
Hamid Awaluddin bought a Honda CR sedan priced at Rp 248.5 million.
Daan Dimara and Mulyana W. Kusumah bought a Nissan X-Trail, priced at between Rp 248 million and Rp 318 million.
Yusacc confirmed that he was getting a new car.
KPU members have come under fire several times for their lavish spending. While they say they lack funds to prepare and run the elections, members have gone on overseas trips "to educate voters and promote" the elections to overseas voters and officials. They have also asked for a salary increase from the monthly Rp 12 million to Rp 18 million.
A number of KPU members have traveled overseas for the second time since early January in the context of educating overseas voters about the elections.
Critics have also criticized KPU members for their performance in voter' education, party verification, and procurement of goods.
The Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) deputy chairman Saut H. Sirait said that KPU members had no sense of justice in their decision to buy new official cars.
"When the Village Election Committee (PPS) and the Working Committee for Election (KPPS) are concerned about their low allowance, KPU members bought new cars for themselves," he said.
KPU plans to give an allowance of Rp 100,000 each to heads of PPS and KPPS, while members would be given Rp 80,000.
The planned allowance is an increase from Rp 50,000 and Rp 40,000 respectively.