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