KPU member gives up car
KPU member gives up car
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Bandung
General Elections Commission (KPU) member Anas Urbaningrum
returned on Friday his newly bought official car to the
commission, after public outrage.
"I consulted my colleagues and they let me take my own
stance on this controversial issue," Anas told a press
conference.
He said he would not use any official car from KPU.
Other KPU members seemed reluctant to follow suit, however.
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti and member Chusnul
Mar'iyah said they did not see the necessity of returning their
official cars, saying they did not receive the vehicles through
corruption.
"This car is not a result of corruption and it is given based
on proper procedures," Ramlan said.
Chusnul added: "We have been working very hard 24 hours a day,
I think we deserve the car. Besides, these cars are used for
high-ranking state officials."
KPU has allotted Rp 350 million (US$41,600) for an official
car for each of the nine KPU members, the secretary-general and
the deputy secretary-general and allowed them to choose their
favorite model.
A number of activists criticized the KPU members as each of
them had already received a Toyota Soluna sedan as their official
car, which costs around Rp 150 million each.
Criticism was also rife when the commission members went
abroad to disseminate information on the elections to around two
millions Indonesians voters living overseas.
They have also asked for a monthly salary increase from Rp 12
million to Rp 18 million.
At about the same time, KPU canceled its plan to increase the
allowance for the Village Elections Committee (PPS) and Working
Committee for Elections (KPPS) from Rp 50,000 to Rp 100,000 for
the chairman and Rp 40,000 to Rp 80,000 for the members.
The commission has complained about a lack of funds to prepare
and run the legislative and direct presidential elections this
year.
Chairman of the West Java Provincial Elections Commission
(KPUD) Setia Permana joined the chorus of criticism against the
official cars, which he said was ironic as many provincial
commissions were crying out for more financial assistance.
He said his office only received Rp 8.5 billion from an
estimated required Rp 93.5 billion.
"Luxury cars should not be allowed as many KPUDs are still
struggling to find more money to prepare and organize the
elections," Permana said.
Most members of regental and municipal election commissions
across the province share official cars, he said.