Legislators' perquisites

Legislators' perquisites

From Kompas

I was baffled by the report on the salary and perquisites of our representatives published on June 26, 2001 in Kompas.

Apart from receiving a basic salary of Rp 9.7 million, each member of the House of Representative (DPR)) also receives furniture, air conditioners, an electric stove, a washing machine worth Rp 6 million and allowances for renovation.

No wonder if none of them feels the pains of the economic crises that have been plaguing the people for quite a while! Many people do not realize that it is the tax payers who are paying for the representatives' amenities. Ironically, household expenses that should be borne by the members themselves are being shouldered by the public, many of whom cannot even afford to buy soap to wash their clothes.

Under no circumstances, with or without a monetary crisis, should the people be made to shoulder this burden. The representatives must pay for their domestic expenses from their own salary so that they realize how others are managing to make ends meet.

The legislators should be ashamed of themselves!

LILY P

Tangerang, Banten