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