PSI Feeling Enemy In The DPRD, PDIP: Who Is Opposed To Sopo? It's Political

Situation of the DKI Jakarta DPRD Plenary Meeting (Photo: Diah / VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the PDIP faction at the DPRD DKI, Gembong Warsono, said that no one was against PSI. The walk out action when PSI read out its general views at the plenary session was not based on hatred.

"Who is opposing the sopo? Nobody is against it. Dianya just feels that. This is a matter of politics. Each faction has an attitude in any relation," said Gembong when confirmed by VOI, Tuesday, December 15.

Gembong considered it reasonable when the walk out incident began with a member of the Golkar faction DPRD DKI, Jamaluddin during a plenary meeting to discuss the revision of DKI Regional Regulation No.1 of 2014, which was eventually followed by other members of the council. Jamaluddin admitted that he was reluctant to listen to PSI's views because they were considered inconsistent.

This is because, some time ago, the DPW PSI DKI stated that they rejected the increase in allowances and salaries in the DPRD's annual work plan (RKT) for the 2021 budget year. In fact, during the discussion, PSI was present and did not state any rejection.

"When it comes to RKT, it was originally an agreement for all factions, including PSI. Until finally they declared their attitude against the increase. And why did PSI feel hostile? What is the formula that he is being opposed?" cecar kingpin.

Previously, the Chairman of the PSI DPP, Tsamara Amany felt that his faction members in the DKI DPRD were hostile to other factions, which was evident in the attitude of all factions walking out when PSI representatives read out their general views at the plenary session.

Tsamara's argument, being opposed by almost all faction members in the Kebon Sirih parliament, is a risk for PSI in maintaining the transparency of the regional budget.

"The risk that we have to accept when we dare to thwart the plan to raise the salaries and allowances of DKI DPRD members is Rp. 700 million per month. Being hostile because protecting people's money is an honor," Tsamara said on his Twitter account @TsamaraDKI.

In the aftermath of a polemic of increasing salaries and benefits

The negative sentiment of DPRD members towards PSI came from the polemic in the preparation of salaries and allowances for council members in 2021, which had experienced an increase in its formulation.

Initially, the preparation of this budget increase went cool without any rejection from all factions. Until finally, one faction, namely PSI, expressed its opposition at the end.

Member of the PSI DPRD DKI Jakarta Fraction, August Hamonangan, explained his reason for participating in the meeting to discuss the special committee on the increase in the annual work plan budget (RKT) of the DKI DPRD.

During the RKT discussion, the PSI faction in the DPRD did not show any rejection because it still submitted the results of the discussion meeting to the DPW and DPP parties.

Until finally, PSI suddenly conveyed the rejection of the RKT increase in the general view of the factions at the plenary session of the General Budget Policy and Temporary Budget Ceiling Priority (KUA-PPAS).

"Until there is a general view at the plenary session, we say we reject, disagree with the increase in DPRD revenue in the RKT," said August on Thursday, December 3.

Members of other party factions in the DPRD have been busy protesting PSI's attitude. One of them is the Deputy Chairman of the DPRD from the Gerindra Faction, Mohamad Taufik. In every special committee meeting and joint leadership meeting (gapimgab) related to the 2021 RKT, Taufik said PSI faction representatives who were members of the special committee agreed to all discussions.

"PSI agreed and signed it in the joint leadership meeting (rapimgab) of the DKI DPRD RKT. But, really, they even spoke oddly against outside. Don't be like that, it has to be fair. This is the name, damaging the institution," said Taufik.

Not wanting to have a long polemic, DKI DPRD Chairman Prasetio Edi Marsudi emphasized that his party has evaluated the draft RKT for council members in the 2021 budget year. That way, all nominal salaries to allowances for the DKI DPRD in 2021 remain the same as in 2020.

"I evaluate all of that, we don't have any (increases). Now, as the leader of the DPRD members, I say that they are evaluated and returned to the 2020 APBD," said Prasetio at the DPRD DKI Building, Central Jakarta, Monday, December 7.

Prasetio emphasized that the increase in salaries and allowances for each DPRD member which was initially reported to have reached Rp. 173 million per month or Rp. 2 billion per year is not a final figure. In the end, the DPRD decided not to increase the budget.

"In the working paper plan, it has not been confirmed. Then, (the draft) was suddenly circulating, not legally," said Prasetio.