Farewell gift for city councillors

Farewell gift for city councillors

There is much controversy surrounding a demand by Jakarta councillors for an end-of-term clothing allowance of Rp 435 million. If granted, each of the 85 councillors would get more than Rp 5 million for their farewell outfit.

Common people are probably curious about just what kind of outfit costs that much. For certain individuals, expensive clothes costing millions of rupiah are the norm. But these people work hard to earn the money to buy the clothes.

In the case of the councillors, the money for these precious clothes belongs to the people, who have been working extra hard to survive during the recent hardships.

Also, it had already been agreed upon that each councillor would receive Rp 9.1 million for their clothing allowance. If the additional Rp 5 million is agreed upon, then each councilor would get a total of Rp 14.2 million just for their clothes.

It is interesting to listen to City Council spokesman Chudlary Syafii Hadzami, who said increasing the clothing allowance was an effort to improve the welfare of councillors.

All of this proves that the councillors lack any sense of crisis or responsibility. They are even harassing the people who elected them.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta