Reimbursement of junket funds

The hurly-burly of the recent study tour or work visit to Bali by members of the House of Representatives stunned the general public, as their earlier overseas "comparative" study drama was still in the people's mind. Really, the House members' performance raises big questions. As the end of the year approaches, their promise to finalize 55 bills on their agenda this year is doubtful.

In the meantime, their proposed 2006 foreign study budget amounts to Rp 32.4 billion (US$32 million), more than twice this year's Rp 14.6 billion and last year's Rp 16.1 billion (The Jakarta Post , Aug. 1). The ideal amount would, of course, be no more than Rp 20 billion.

However, with their rowdy junket to Bali having become hot news, there is a need to change the system by introducing a reimbursement mechanism by which House members making a trip can be reimbursed according to the number of days they spend outside of the city. In case they refuse to pay with their own money, they can get a loan from the House Secretariat. This may also include their foreign trips.

The same method may actually be applicable to other civil servants, as the present lump-sum system is prone to abuse.

This is one way to eradicate corruption and it is the minister/head of National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), minister of finance and minister of administrative reform who have the obligation to make the change.

Successfully changing this system would mean saving at least a quarter of the reported 30 percent of the state budget lost to corruption, as the major corruption occurs in the area of procurement with their notorious markups.

M. RUSDI, Jakarta