Modest lifestyle campaign gets public support

Modest lifestyle campaign gets public support

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Public support is mounting for the People's Consultative Assembly
leaders who have embarked on a campaign to promote modest
lifestyles, and so are the demands that the drive extend to all
state officials.

Luky Djani, deputy coordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch
(ICW), said on Thursday that the officials of state institutions
needed to become involved or else the movement would remain
little more than rhetoric.

"It could serve as a starting point for the effort to build a
good and efficient government. All public money must be spent
efficiently," Lucky told The Jakarta Post.

Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and his three deputies said
on Wednesday they would refuse the luxury Volvo cars to which
they are entitled and royal suites in the five-star Mulia Hotel
during the Assembly's two-day plenary session next week.

Hidayat said the Assembly leaders wished to set an example of
simplicity and help reduce the burden on the state budget given
that Indonesia has yet to recover from the economic downturn that
has plagued the country since 1997.

State officials, including lawmakers, have been regularly
criticized for spending too much public money on non-essentials,
and their constant hunger for more benefits and facilities,
regardless of their sub-par performances.

Emulating the House members, the members of the General
Elections Commission (KPU) defied public criticism by making
several overseas trips, purportedly to disseminate electoral
information to Indonesian citizens living abroad, despite the
fact that they accounted for only 0.8 percent of registered
voters. Previously they had asked for official cars costing Rp
300 million (US$32,970) each.

Some lawmakers hailed the move of the Assembly leaders on
Thursday, but questioned the sincerity of the campaign.

House Speaker Agung Laksono appeared hesitant when asked for
his opinion.

"That is the business of the Assembly leaders. I think cost-
cutting won't be greatly affected by the Volvo cars. The most
important thing is that we cut the subsidies we provide for the
rich, which reach nearly Rp 73 trillion a year," Agung, of the
Golkar Party, said.

House Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar, National Awakening
Party (PKB), said the campaign could become a moral force to
encourage modest lifestyles among state officials.

Like the Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, the House of
Representatives' leaders and Cabinet ministers are also entitled
to Volvos.

In addition, the leaders of the newly-established Regional
Representatives Council (DPD) are also in line for the luxury
cars.

When Agung and Muhaimin were asked if they would refuse their
Volvos, they said they had not discussed the issue.

Separately, Djoko Susilo, National Mandate Party (PAN),
doubted whether the campaign would be successful.

"The refusal to accept the Volvos is merely symbolic. More
substantial action will be required," he said.

This would include shunning unnecessary overseas trips and a
willingness to use modest cars, like Toyota Avanzas or Daihatsu
Xenias, which cost less than Rp 100 million.

Separately, House Secretary-General Faisal Djamal said the
procurement of official vehicles was the responsibility of the
State Secretariat.

"We have not received the official cars. Possibly, their
procurement will be undertaken after the announcement of the
Cabinet lineup. All Cabinet ministers are also entitled to
official cars," Faisal said.

He added that the House secretariat had allocated funds to
help new legislators, excluding reelected ones, pay their
accommodation expenses in Jakarta for about two months from Oct.
7 to Nov. 30.

According to Faisal, each legislator receives Rp 400,000 per
day for accommodation and Rp 50,000 for transportation .

"The official houses for legislators in Kalibata are being
renovated. We hope the lawmakers can take up residence in these
houses by Dec. 1," said Faisal.