Proposal to raise lawmakers' wages opposed by PKS
Proposal to raise lawmakers' wages opposed by PKS
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is the first faction in the
House of Representatives to openly oppose the controversial
proposal for a hike in the salary and allowances of legislators.
A legislator of the faction said on Tuesday that the timing
was not right for a hike in the salary of lawmakers amid the
various difficulties suffered by the people such as natural
disasters, malnutrition, endemic diseases and the high
unemployment rate.
"The PKS faction opposes it. The timing is not right. We've
seen unemployment problems in various regions," said PKS
legislator Soeripto on the sidelines of a House hearing.
The House Secretariat had recently proposed a hike in the
salaries and allowances of legislators, with some saying that the
move was necessary to boost their performance. The higher
allowance, for instance, is seen as important to help finance
lawmakers' trips to various regions to meet their constituents,
and also to hire experts as consultants to assist them in their
legislative duties.
But the proposal has received widespread criticism from the
public particularly amid the poor record of the 550 House members
with regards their primary function of enacting legislation.
Out of the 55 bills scheduled to be completed this year, only
one bill has been passed, and lawmakers have only begun
deliberating a number of bills.
Minister of Finance Jusuf Anwar has also expressed concern
over the impact of the proposed salary hike on the state budget,
which is now struggling to cover the ballooning fuel subsidy amid
surging international oil prices.
Meanwhile, a legislator from the National Awakening Party
(PKB) also expressed disagreement over the proposed salary hike,
pointing out the heavy burden on the state budget.
Legislator Nursjahbani Katjasungkana acknowledged that
lawmakers badly needed a higher salary and allowance, but
considering the current weak state of the economy and the various
problems in society, the plan should be delayed.
Nursjahbani said that she received Rp 15.5 million (US$1,631)
per month, but nearly half of it had to be donated to her party
to help finance various programs.