Admits That He Has Reprimanded PDIP DPR Members About The Issue Of An Increase In Salaries, Ahok: Why Are You Silent?

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok)/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

Chairman of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of the PDI-P Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) admitted that he had reprimanded PDIP cadres who were members of the DPR. Ahok said, they were silent when the issue of the increase in salaries of members of the DPR became the spotlight and public criticism.

"I convey as Chairman (DPP), we are autocritical to the PDI-P. You are a member of parliament. Why are you all silent, don't talk? You have to talk, council members," Ahok said when met at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Wednesday, August 20.

Ahok also reminded members of the PDIP faction of the DPR to continue to voice criticism from the public, including regarding the allocation of the state budget for their salaries and allowances.

"In our party we are criticized. Including PDIP, where are you going? Don't just want to receive a salary. The salary of Rp. 1 billion is also okay. I said the minister wants a salary of Rp. 16 billion a year too. But there is no home allowance. Maybe your home allowance is more than Rp. 20 billion a year? Because of repairs, services, dismantling, rehab, that's it," said Ahok.

According to Ahok, it actually doesn't matter if the salaries and allowances of members of parliament increase, as long as they can announce the use of the budget to the public in a transparent manner. This is because state revenue comes from public taxes.

"For me, the council members want a salary of Rp. 1 billion a month, I'm okay. But you open all of your budgets. All of the ministries, the budget is opened, please. Let us know where every tax center we pay is used. Now, now you don't want to open it," said Ahok.

Recently, it was rumored that the salaries of DPR members had increased significantly. It was stated that the increase reached up to Rp. 3 million per day.

However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, dismissed the issue. According to him, what happened was compensation related to members of the DPR who no longer received a house from the government.

"There is no increase. Only now, the DPR is no longer getting a house of office, but it is replaced with compensation for house money," said Puan.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Adies Kadir, also revealed that he denied the information regarding the increase in the salary of council members to Rp. 100 million per month.

Adies said the basic salary of DPR members has not yet increased, it is still in the range of IDR 6.5 million.

Adies assessed that the Minister of Finance may feel sorry for the members of the DPR so that it increases several allowance components such as the increase in rice and gasoline allowances.

"So the only increase is the allowance. The rice allowance because we know the rice for eggs also increases, maybe the Minister of Finance also feels sorry for the friends of the DPR. So it is increased," said Adies, Tuesday, August 19.

Adies detailed that previously board members received rice allowances of around Rp. 10 million per month, now it has increased to Rp. 12 million. Then, the previous gasoline allowance of around Rp. 4 million to Rp. 5 million increased to Rp. 7 million per month.

"Even though the mobility of Council friends is more than that every month," said the Golkar Party politician.

Adies said the amount of salary and allowances received by members of the DPR was around Rp. 69 million to Rp. 70 million, including with health benefits.

This amount, according to him, is still outside the housing allowance of around Rp. 50 million per month. Adies said, housing allowances were given after DPR members no longer received official housing facilities from the state.

"Oh, yes, outside the housing. Salaries are salaries outside the housing if I'm not mistaken, there are rice allowances, what else are allowances, what are health benefits, but outside of house allowances. That's around Rp. 70 million per month," he explained.