Structural allowances

From Media Indonesia

I am very concerned to learn that, based on the Circulation of the Directorate General of State Budget, the Professors must return the "structural allowances" they have received so far to the government. The amount of the allowance to be returned varies, even it can reach Rp 20 million. It is ironic that this case came up when the Association of Indonesian Teachers (PGRI) was holding a meeting to elect new leaders. Essentially, Professors are teachers whose task is to teach and educate people.

We know for sure that the structural allowances are paid not because of their mistakes, neither through ill-will. It is even more shocking that they are required to return all the money by September 1994. How could the decision maker do such a thing. It is not easy for the professors to get the money in a short time. For humanitarian reasons it might be necessary to discuss the matter to find a humane solution to the problem.

Above all, the legitimacy of the decision of the budget directorate general should be questioned. The structural allowances are based on the Presidential Decision which cannot possibly be annulled by a decision of an official of lower echelon.

If all efforts fail, the case can be brought to the State Administration Court to seek a fair solution.

HADARI

Jakarta