Amid Criticism Of DPRD Allowances, Sekwan Bandung Affirms The Rights Of Normative Councils

BANDUNG (National House of Representatives) Secretary of Bandung City, Yasa Hanafiah, emphasized that the allowances received by DPRD members are not additional income, but normative rights that have been regulated in statutory regulations.

The Bandung City Regional Government only carries out the mandate of laws and regulations. So it is not a policy that suddenly appears, but a normative provision that applies nationally," Yasa said, quoted from ANTARA, Thursday, September 11.

Yasa explained that housing allowances are given to DPRD members who are not facilitated by official houses. The amount is determined by considering the principles of fairness, propriety, and regional financial capacity.

This allowance is not just an additional form of income. Basically, DPRD members are entitled to official residences. Because these facilities are not available, housing allowances are given according to applicable standards," he said.

Furthermore, Yasa said that all components of the council's income were determined through legal mechanisms, ranging from government regulations, regional regulations, to mayorial regulations. All of that, he said, was carried out with the principle of openness and accountability.

"Every rupiah received by the leadership and members of the DPRD is accounted for according to the rules. So this is not a big question or small numbers, but a matter of normative rights and state financial governance that must be fulfilled," he said.

According to Yasa, based on data from the Bandung City DPRD, the workload of council members in the field far exceeds official agendas such as recesses. On the other hand, the Bandung City Government and the DPRD continue to make efficiency, including at official travel posts, so that budget management is more transparent and in accordance with the principle of propriety.

"This means that the rights received by DPRD members through allowances are accompanied by heavy obligations and a strict accountability mechanism as representatives of the people. The real workload carried out is greater than the formal picture that is often seen in the public," said Yasa.

Currently, the public's attention is also focused on the amount of housing allowances for West Java Provincial DPRD members which reach tens of millions of rupiah per month numbers that raise widespread criticism.

According to the Deputy Chairperson of the West Java DPRD, MQ Iswara, although the housing allowance is listed at IDR 62 million for members, IDR 65 million for the vice chairman, and IDR 71 million for the chairman, it is the amount before tax. After deducting a 30% progressive tax, the take-home pay received ranges from around IDR 44 million only.

Iswara explained that the allowance was given because West Java DPRD members were required to be domiciled in the provincial capital and did not receive official housing facilities, according to the provisions in PP Number 18 of 2017.

Furthermore, the August 2025 salary slip showed a gross salary figure of Rp92.66 million, but after tax deductions, bank loans, and faction fees, only Rp16.29 million was received.