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.