Legislators want hefty pay hike

PADANG, West Sumatra: Members of the West Sumatra legislative council demanded on Tuesday an increase in their monthly salary from Rp 750,000 to Rp 10 million.

They compared their situation to the large increase in allowances that echelon civil servants will receive beginning next month.

"Second-echelon officials will get Rp 5 million in allowances a month," Armal Zon, a member of the council, said in the session.

Their demand was quickly criticized by the local Legal Aid Institute.

"I think the ideal figure is Rp 3 million per month. If legislators ask for more, they're being unreasonable," Miko Kamal of the institute said. "West Sumatra is not a rich province like Riau," he added. (28/edt)