Salaries for fuel subsidies

Salaries for fuel subsidies

From Kompas

The members of the central legislature and regional councillors seem to have not realized the difficulties faced by the government and society at this time. They are only concerned about their own interests, and their continuous demands for certain facilities sound unthinkably senseless.

These range from salary increases, additional operational allowances, official cars, housing, personal work-rooms and secretaries, to monuments celebrating their memory.

Truly they have turned a deaf ear and are blind to the realities of most people's lives. They are also grossly insensitive.

Realizing the huge burden of the fuel subsidies the government has to bear, it should be necessary to consider cutting the net income of legislators and regional councillors by about 60 percent.

These so-called people's representatives would more appropriately stay at government-standardized messes, instead of at star-rated hotels. They should also use buses to go to and from the office.

Official travels or visits should be done only for programs that have absolute priority and urgency. They should not ask for additional funds or services from business establishments.

Their remunerations should be calculated on a similar basis to that of other government employees, because their function is to serve the people's interests. So they should not use their jobs as a means to make a fortune. They are working to serve the public, not the political parties, so if they want real wealth, they should quit their government-related jobs and become entrepreneurs or work in the private sector.

BANIES WIDISARONO Surabaya