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.