Ministry Of Finance Replaces House Of Representatives Member Of Parliament With Allowances, Sri Mulyani's Subordinates: Still Under Review

Illustrations (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) admits that it is studying the option of granting certain allowances to members of the House of Representatives (DPR) as compensation for the removal of official residences.

This was confirmed by the Director General of State Assets of the Ministry of Finance Rionald Silaban when holding a webinar today. According to him, the discourse is still ongoing and has not yet reached a final decision.

"The discussion is still ongoing, whether official housing is provided or it is replaced with allowances," he said on Friday, August 20.

Rionald added that his party rejects the growing assumption that the Ministry of Finance plans to take the official houses of members of the DPR.

"I want to set things straight, the Ministry of Finance doesn't want to take the house of the DPR, it doesn't," he asserted.

In his explanation, Rionald explained that the replacement scheme began when the Directorate General of State Assets was summoned by the Household Affairs Agency (BURT) regarding the best scheme that could be given to members of parliament.

"So indeed, a few months ago we were called by the BURT, which essentially communicates that there is no better way than for members of the DPR to be provided with official housing," he said.

It is important to note that BURT is formed by the DPR and is a permanent instrument of the DPR. The DPR determines the composition and membership of the BURT at the beginning of the DPR membership period and the beginning of the session year.

Meanwhile, the number of DPR members for the 2019-2024 period is 575 people who occupy official residences in several locations, including in Kalibata and Ulujami, South Jakarta.