PDI-P Deputy Sec-Gen: Megawati Never Thinks of Salary in BPIP

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy secretary-general Ahmad Basarah said financial issues had never crossed Megawati Soekarnoputri's mind while the latter was working as the chair of the Agency for the Implementation of the State Ideology of Pancasila (BPIP) despite her complex and difficult tasks.

As the chairwoman, Megawati and the agency's eight other members are tasked to manage the agency and the education system of state ideology Pancasila from the beginning as it was a newly-formed institution.

“Bu Mega and other BPIP leaders have never known the allowance or the financial rights they are entitled to. They never proposed any number or even requested it from the government,” Ahmad Basarah underlined.

Ahmad Basarah made the statement following public controversies ensuing from the issuance of Presidential Decree (Perpres) No. 42/2018 on financial and facility rights for BPIP officials. 

Read: SBY Praises Megawati as Model of Successful Woman

The Perpres stipulates the chair of the BPIP steering committee's salary is Rp112,548,000, committee members at Rp100,811,000, BPIP head atRp73,500,000, deputy head at Rp63,750,000, deputy members at Rp51,000,000, and special staffers at Rp36,000,000 per month.

Thus, he demanded the State Secretary, Administrative and Bureaucracy Reform Minister, and Finance Minister shed light on the BPIP officials' salaries proportionally and objectively before the public.

“Accounts from related ministers are important so that public opinion would not destruct the pride of the agency (BPIP) that has vital roles and duties in promoting the state ideology of Pancasila,” said Basarah in a written statement dated today.

He further explained that Megawati and other BPIP officials had never received their salaries due to various internal administrative issues among ministries since their installment on June 7, 2017.

IMAM HAMDI