Reasons Why DPRD Chairman Insists On Opening Anies-Riza's Operational Allowance: It's Time For Transparency

Chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Prasetyo Edi Marsudi/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - The chairman of the DKI DPRD, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi, explained the reason he firmly wanted to know the amount of the operational allowances for the Governor of DKI Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor of DKI Ahmad Riza Patria.

This he conveyed in the DPRD Budget Board meeting which discussed the evaluation of the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Draft Regional Regulation on the DKI Regional Budget for the 2021 fiscal year.

Prasetyo assessed that the public needs to know the income of regional officials. When the increase in the allowances for DPRD members is open, Prasetyo also wants Anies and Riza's operational allowances to be published for the sake of transparency.

"Yes, now is the time for transparency. It's not that I want to seek discrimination. So, don't blame people, but he himself doesn't want to be exposed. They have to answer that," said Prasetyo after a meeting at the DKI DPRD building, Thursday, January 13.

Moreover, said Prasetyo, the allowance for 106 DPRD members, which this year has increased by Rp26 billion per year, is also often used to help the community.

For example, when a council member goes to an electoral district and sees that its citizens need assistance, they can use their allowance budget outside of the recess fund.

"The allowance, for example, we go down in the midst of the community. Then they ask us (fulfilling needs) outside of the plan. For example, 'Sir, this toilet is broken'. It's not in the recess planning, "he explained.

It is known, at the Banggar meeting today, Prasetyo, who is also the Chair of the DPRD Banggar again, demanded the DKI Regional Secretary Marullah Matali to open the amount of Anies and Riza's operational allowances this year. This demand was expressed at the Banggar meeting yesterday.

Marullah was apparently still unable to explain because he did not bring an explanation regarding the details of the DKI governor's operational allowance as requested by the Budget Agency at the previous meeting.

"So, the figure is indeed the percentage according to the PP, it reads like that. So the 'amount' depends on PAD," said Marullah Matali in the meeting.

On that occasion, Marullah only explained that the percentage of the operational support costs for the governor of DKI according to Government Regulation (PP) Number 109 of 2020 was a maximum of 0.15 percent of the Regional Original Revenue (PAD).

In Article 9 paragraph 1 letter F in PP 109/2020 it is stated that the operational costs of regional heads and deputy regional heads of provinces are determined based on the classification of PAD above Rp500 billion, the lowest is Rp1.25 billion and the highest is 0.15 percent.

Not satisfied, Prasetyo asked that nothing be covered up and must be transparent. He also described the atmosphere of the meeting like a child.

"This is like a child, how come the answer is like being covered up, why, sir? This is the time for us to be transparent. So, the public can see and judge," said Prasetyo.

Given that the explanation has not been satisfactory, the Chairman of the DKI DPRD asked the DKI Regional Secretary to provide a written and closed answer regarding the details of the DKI Governor's operational allowances from the 2018-2020 period on Friday, January 14 to the DKI DPRD.

"If you don't dare to be transparent and accountable here, sir, make a letter to me tomorrow, the answer, closed and as clear as possible," he added.