Govt to give Soeharto Rp 26.5b for house

JAKARTA (JP): The government was steadfastly standing by its decision to give former president Soeharto an Rp 26.5 billion housing allowance yesterday, arguing that it was standard practice and in accordance with the law.

The decision is based on law No. 7/1978 which stipulates that former presidents and vice-presidents are entitled to certain gratuities including a pension, appropriate housing, a car and chauffeur, security guards and a waiver on paying telephone, water and electric bills.

"We all realize the (economic) situation we are facing... But that shouldn't lessen our appreciation of Pak Harto. In any case it is upheld by law," Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said here yesterday after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential office.

He pointed out that former vice presidents Adam Malik, Umar Wirahadikusumah and Sudharmono were accorded similar treatment.

According to Akbar, Soeharto requested money instead of accommodation because he already built a house. Rather than have the government purchase a new one he requested that he be compensated in accordance with the value of that house.

The house in question is a 3,000 square meter structure built in 1993 on a one hectare site at the Purna Bhakti Museum complex in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta.

It is not clear why the government was asked to pay for Soeharto's house in East Jakarta and not the one in which he currently resides on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, which is smaller in size.

During his 32 years as president, Soeharto refused to stay in the official presidential residence of Merdeka Palace and instead choose to stay in Jl. Cendana.

News of the government's decision to grant a housing allowance to the former president attracted strong words from Golkar legislator Paskah Suzetta, who criticized the decision during a hearing with Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto on Monday.

He said it was unwise to approve frivolous expenditure when the government was facing an unprecedented monetary crisis and people were starving.

However, Akbar defended the decision yesterday, saying that Soeharto should be given due recognition for his service.

"We all know Pak Harto for his dedication. We also realize that he is old. He is 77 and if we can give it to him now then why must we postpone it," Akbar remarked, adding that the government had not yet transferred the money but would do so "in the near future".

Separately the director general of budget affairs in the Ministry of Finance, Darsjah, yesterday denied reports that the money was transferred through Bank Indonesia on July 8.

Other financial rewards going Soeharto's way will be a Rp 15 million monthly pension. The law stipulates that former presidents will receive a pension equivalent to 100 percent of their basic salary.

Akbar also said that the government was in the process of finding a house for former vice president Try Sutrisno in the plush Menteng district of Central Jakarta.

Sources say the government is expected to dish out Rp 19 billion for Try's house.

When pressed by journalists, Akbar was reluctant to reveal whether Sukarno, Soeharto's predecessor, received the same facilities.

"I need to study that one further," he remarked.

An aide to one of Sukarno's wives, Hartini, said her husband never received a house from the government.

"Bapak was never given a house by the government," Hartini's aide told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Hartini earlier yesterday said Soeharto not only refused to give a new house to Sukarno, but had seized his old house on Jl. Batu Tulis in Bogor without any explanation. (prb)