Crowded Increase In Allowances For Council Members, Chairman Of DKI DPRD Also Wants Anies-Riza's Operational Allowance To Be Shown

Jakarta DPRD Budget Board Meeting/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Chairman of the DKI DPRD Prasetyo Edi Marsudi responded to the hectic discussion regarding the increase in allowances for council members by Rp26.42 billion in 2022.

Prasetyo asked DKI Regional Secretary Marullah Matali to also open the amount of operational allowances for DKI Governor Anies Baswedan and DKI Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria.

In the Budget Board meeting that discussed the Ministry of Home Affairs' evaluation of the 2022 DKI Regional Budget Raperda, Prasetyo admitted that he did not want only DPRD members to be highlighted because they received an increase in allowances. This is because Anies and Riza also receive an annual operational allowance.

"In this forum, please Pak Sekda through BPKD explain how many operations the Governor and Deputy Governor have and all their equipment? Let the public also know that the DPRD is always the one to blame, the DPRD again," said Prasetyo at the DKI DPRD building, Tuesday, January 11.

Responding to this, Jakarta Secretary Marullah admitted that he could not explain directly at that time. This is because he does not have complete data regarding the amount of Anies and Riza's allowances.

"Indeed, I answered that it had to be complete with complete data. We will prepare it later. So, maybe it can't be done right now. I will submit the data to be submitted at the Banggar meeting. It will be prepared by my staff soon," said Marullah.

Prasetyo holds Marullah's words. He is waiting for the DKI Provincial Government to immediately show the amount of operational allowances for the two DKI leaders.

For information, the budget for salaries and allowances is Rp. 177 billion for all members of the board in one year. The amount of salary and allowances for members of the DKI DPRD increased by Rp. 26.4 billion from last year, namely 2021, which was Rp. 150.94 billion.

The increase in this allowance is considered reasonable and appropriate. The chairman of the DKI DPRD, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, said that if it was calculated, the DPRD allowance was still smaller than the operational allowance for the Governor and Deputy Governor of DKI.

"We deserve this, sir. It's the Minister of Home Affairs who evaluates this. If not, the Minister of Home Affairs will write it off (the allowance increase budget)," said Prasetyo some time ago.

The PDIP politician also claimed that the increased allowance would be used to help the community. An example is the socialization of government programs.

"Yes, (increase in allowances) of Rp26 billion for council members. But the money is again not for us, you know. For the community. It was increased slightly to help the community such as socialization. The allowance is what informs the public," he said.