MPR annual session to cost Rp 20b

JAKARTA: This year's annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) scheduled for August, which is expected to approve the final phase of amendments to the 1945 Constitution, will cost around Rp 20 billion, a senior legislator said on Thursday.

Alihardi Kiai Demak, a member of the MPR's ad hoc committee, said the huge amount of money would be used to finance the holding of the 12-day annual session.

However, he said the assembly would try to cut short the session's timetable in order to economize.

Alihardi did not specify what the money would be used for exactly.

He said all 700 members of the assembly are expected to attend the annual session and will stay in the Hotel Mulia Senayan, around 100 meters from the MPR and House of Representatives. --Antara