Legislator protests salary raise for judges

JAKARTA (JP): A legislator has called the government's decision to raise the salaries of judges by a 100 percent excessive and unfair to other government professions.

"I think the 100 percent increase, for whatever reason, is discriminatory," Soetardjo Soerjoguritno of the minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) told the Antara news agency.

"Judges are important to upholding the law but what about the role of teachers. They are not less important to society," Soetardjo, who sits in the Commission II of the House of Representatives, was quoted as saying.

The government said the hefty raise, to take effect in January, is important to strengthen their dedication to their profession.

Soetardjo argued that the dedication of teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the country, is just as important, if not more.

If the argument to double the salary of judges is to stop bribery and corruption and improve the quality of the entire legal system, then the same argument could also be applied for the teaching profession and the quality of education in the country, he added.

He pointed out that many teachers in Indonesia have had to take up second jobs to make ends meet.

President Soeharto is scheduled to unveil the government's spending plans for the 1994/95 fiscal year in his budget speech at the House of Representatives on Jan. 5. In his speech, he is expected to disclose whether or not there will be a salary increase for the 4 million-strong civil servant body.

The judges, who are on the government's payroll, have already been assured of the 100 percent increase, which was announced last October.

Soetardjo said a twofold raise in their salary is excessive and could sow envy among others in government. "If you have to give an increase, I think it should not be more than 50 percent." (emb)