PKS councillors to return severance pay

PKS councillors to return severance pay

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

All four councillors of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS)
faction will return the severance pay that is distributed at the
end of councillors' five-year terms.

Party leader for Jakarta Ahmad Heriyawan, said the decision
was based on a circular issued by PKS' central board that
prohibited its members from receiving taxpayers' money.

"It has become policy, so we are acting according to orders,"
Heriyawan said at the City Council on Wednesday.

Each city councillor is entitled to severance pay of Rp 25
million. The city administration has earmarked Rp 2.1 billion of
the city budget for the severance pay of 84 councillors.

Heriyawan said PKS councillors would not take the opportunity
to own the official sedans they had used while in office.

"When our terms end, of course, we must return them," he said.

Aside from PKS, councillors of other factions are apparently
looking forward to their severance pay, even if some jokingly
call it "meager."

Several other councillors also expressed their willingness to
own official sedans by "purchasing" them at a lower price than
their market value.

According to the calculations of Fitra, a non-governmental
organization dealing with budget accountability, each councillor
receives a total net income of Rp 1.7 billion during their five-
year term.

PKS secured 18 seats out of 75 seats in the City Council after
their party garnered the largest number of votes in Jakarta in
the April 5 election.