TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Uchok Sky Khadafy, the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency’s investigation (FITRA) and advocacy director, has slammed the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD Jakarta) for lavishing taxpayers’ money on fancy official clothes for its councilors.
“The DPRD has yet to start working, but they are already basking in upscale, extravagant and fantastic facilities,” Uchok said in a release dated Tuesday, August 26, 2014.
According to FITRA’s data on the capital’s expenditure budget, the production of a new DPRD member’s new official clothes costs around Rp12.7 million. He added each Jakarta councilor was also given a golden Garuda badge worth Rp9.9 million. DPRD Jakarta currently comprises of 106 members.
“This kind of spending just demonstrated a waste of money and it’s unforgivable,” Uchok said.
He added the budget for the production of the clothes and badges were relatively higher than those earmarked for councilors of the other provinces. Uchok said DPRD Jakarta’s expenditure for new clothes were among the eight largest across the nation, with DPRD Maluku topping the list at Rp40.7 million, followed by West Sulawesi with Rp20.3 million. As for the badges, he went on, DPRD North Sumatra had the most luxurious ones worth Rp12 million apiece.
Jakarta Governor-cum-president-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo installed yesterday 106 new councilors of DPRD Jakarta. In his speech, Jokowi called on the councilmen to prioritize the public’s interests and stick to the principles of transparency and accountability in formulating the capital’s budget.
IRA GUSLINA SUFA
