House curbs travel budget due to financial crisis

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives decided yesterday to curb its travel budget and other expenses due to the financial crisis.

Deputy House Speaker in charge of economic and financial affairs Abdul Gafur said the budget cuts would force the legislature to delay trips to Mexico and Poland and reduce the number of legislators sent to remote areas during recesses.

"The skyrocketing transportation expenses have made it impossible for us to go ahead with our trips," Gafur said after a House leadership meeting presided over by House Speaker Harmoko.

Gafur said the House had also decided not to save the unused Rp 1 billion (US$100,000 at the current exchange rate) in the overseas travel budget for the next fiscal year. The money will be returned to the government.

Gafur said the postponement of the overseas trips would not affect the House's relationships with its counterparts.

"The crisis is sweeping a number of countries, not only Indonesia. Our counterparts will understand our difficulties," he said.

However, Gafur said the proposed budget cuts would exclude trips for international conferences, namely the Inter- Parliamentary Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Interparliamentary Organization (AIPO).

Gafur said the House body in charge of internal affairs would meet to discuss other possible efficiency measures, including a shorter list of legislators to go on recess tours and the scrapping of car credit allowances.

"Car prices have increased so sharply that we are considering revising the policy to provide car credit allowances. We will suggest legislators perhaps buy used cars," he said.

A legislator earns Rp 5 million in take-home pay per month during his or her five-year term, plus a Rp 30 million car purchase allowance and another Rp 30 million car credit allowance upon request.

Gafur said the House would send legislators to the country's 27 provinces during the upcoming recess, but in smaller delegations.

The House will be in recess from Feb. 26 for three days. It resumes work on March 1 to coincide with the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

All the 500 House legislators are also members of the Assembly. (amd)