Local councillors will work less but gain more
Local councillors will work less but gain more
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The newly inaugurated regional councillors have had their powers
and duties cut, but will enjoy a better income following the
issuance of two government regulations on regional legislatures'
standing orders and councillors' protocol and financial
privileges.
According to Government Regulation No. 24/2004, which was
issued last week to replace the earlier government regulation No.
110/2001, councillors receive the same treatment as regional
heads.
Like governors, regents or mayors, legislature speakers will
be seated in the front row during a plenary session, hearing or
state ceremonies.
The new government regulation stipulates that a regional
legislature (DPRD) speaker shall receive the same basic salary as
that of a governor, regent or mayor. The deputy speakers receive
20 percent less, while ordinary members 25 percent less.
"But, the payment of a House of Representatives legislator
will be proportionally higher than that of councillors at
provincial, regental/municipal legislatures," Director General
for Regional Autonomy at the Ministry of Home Affairs Oentarto
Sindung Mawardi told The Jakarta Post here on Friday..
Councillors will also receive seven kinds of allowances,
including health care and other allowances related to their
membership in the legislature's commission and other related
bodies.
In the past, councillors set their own income level in line
with their budget, a practice prone to collective corruption.
"The collective corruption varies, ranging from embezzlement
of DPRD budget for their own interests to extorting the regional
heads," Oentarto said.
He confirmed the basic salary of governors, regents and mayors
as well as councillors would increase in a bid to encourage them
to stick to their jobs.
Government Regulation No. 25/2004 was issued to replace
Government Regulation No. 1/2001. It reduces regional
legislatures' power in line with the planned direct election of
regional heads.
Unlike the past system, regional heads will be directly
elected by the people under the organization of local branches of
the General Elections Commission.
"With the reduction in power, DPRDs can no longer reject
progress reports of governors or mayors or extort and oust them
as happened in Surabaya, East Java, and Kampar, Riau recently,"
said Oentarto.
Like the House of Representatives, provincial, regental or
municipal legislative councils will be granted power in
legislative and budgetary affairs, as well as the authority to
submit a motion, question controversial issues and give their
opinion without fear of arrest.
The regulation, however, has raised many eyebrows as it
stipulates that despite those functions, the legislatures are
considered a part of the regional administrations and, therefore,
fall under the control of the central government, in this case
the president and the home minister.
The home minister has the authority to annul controversial
bylaws and issue permission for investigation into regents,
mayors and councillors who are involved in crimes and misconduct.
The president is authorized to dismiss governors and members
of provincial legislatures.