Money for nothing, perks for free

A newspaper report said that President B.J. Habibie, through Presidential Decree No. 20 dated May 20, 1999, has determined that each member of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the period 1997 to 2002 will receive an allowance to the tune of Rp 150 million for their service to the country, apart from their pensions.

I agree with Amien Rais' protest that the granting of such a huge amount is wrong. The country is in an economic crisis, so why is the President wasting money? In the name of the Indonesian people, I demand that the presidential decree be revoked and reviewed by the President.

What is the purpose of granting the money to the House members? Did they show great merit to the Indonesian people? If they served the country well, it was merely their duty to do so. As the people's representatives, they must dedicate themselves to the public interest. I think the DPR members are spoiled and have been given preferential treatment by the President.

Consider this:

a. Thirty million people have no income due to layoffs, 60 million people are living in abject poverty, experiencing the greatest difficulty merely to survive. Some have committed suicide.

b. Salaries of civil servants and members of the Indonesian Military and the Police are relatively low, only enough to live on for 10 days a month. Pensions also are low. I am a retired civil servant of the IV/E group, the highest on the scale, with service of 37 years, and receive only Rp 780,000 a month.

c. In the 1999 general election, the allocation to build voting booths was only Rp 40,000 each, and the allowance for witnesses working from morning until night amounted to Rp 4,000 (the price of one meal at a sidewalk stall). So community members were asked for contributions in the context of the organization of the general election at the voting booths. The people must always shoulder various burdens.

I propose the following for House members.

a. The service money for each DPR member should be a maximum of Rp 30 million; the pay upon their retirement should be two fifths of Rp 2.5 million per month.

b. After the 1999 general election, House members need not work anymore because of a recess until the formation of the new legislature. There is no need for new laws.

c. The establishment of a new House of Representatives /People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) should be expedited, as well as the MPR general session, if possible to September 1999.

The people look forward to a new DPR/MPR, a new president and vice President and a new government in Indonesia.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta