Mega issues decree on housing for ex-VVIPs

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed on Monday a decree that set the maximum price of a residence for former VVIPs at Rp 20 billion (US$2.22 million).

The decree, which implements Law No. 7/1978, comes almost four weeks before Megawati is expected to leave office.

"The decree was signed today to set the price of residences for former presidents and vice presidents," State/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Megawati, who sought a full five-year term in the Sept. 20 election runoff, is trailing far behind her former security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the provisional vote-count. Of the over 110 million ballots counted as of Monday evening, Megawati has won only 43 million against Susilo's 67 million.

The new president will be sworn in on Oct. 20.

Article 8 of Law No. 7/1978 stipulates that former presidents and vice presidents are entitled to a residence provided by the state, among other benefits.

Bambang denied suggestions that the decree's issuance was connected to Megawati's imminent defeat in the runoff, saying that the decree had been planned since she took office in 2002.

He said according to the law, former VVIPs were also entitled to an official car along with a driver, a personal secretary, a pension in accordance with their last position's basic salary and lifetime medical treatment by presidential doctors.

Law No. 7/1978 drew criticism from the public following the downfall of former president Soeharto in 1998, as he was suspected of massive corruption.

His successor B.J. Habibie granted Soeharto Rp 27 billion for his personal residence in Taman Mini, East Jakarta. Soeharto, however, returned the money to the state due to strong public protests.

Habibie himself received a house in the plush residential area of Patra Kuningan in South Jakarta, where he lived when he was vice president in 1998. Habibie is now living in Germany with his ailing wife.

"Only former president Abdurrahman (Wahid) has not received his due, as the former president has yet to decide whether to take cash or a house," Bambang said.

President Megawati currently lives in the state residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, while Vice President Hamzah Haz lives in one of five official presidential residences on Jl. Diponegoro.