Legislators want hefty pay hike

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)