Speaker supports pay hike proposal

JAKARTA: House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono defended on Wednesday the proposal to increase the salaries of House members by some Rp 15 million (US$1,612) each, saying the current salary was insufficient to cover their operational expenses.

He said legislators often had to spend their current salary of Rp 16 million each on operational items connected with their job as the people's representatives, including visits to their constituents.

Agung suggested that the government allocate a huge portion of government funds for law enforcement to increase the lawmakers' salaries. -- JP