The Story Of Gus Dur Enggan Living In A State Giving House

The private house of the former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur in Ciganjur, South Jakarta. (Special)

JAKARTA - The President and Vice President of Indonesia are fully responsible positions. All kinds of state instruments support their steps to lead the nation and state. Especially when they are no longer in office.

The state still gives privileges. A decent house, one of which. The intention is in accordance with Law (UU) from 1978. However, not all national leaders are happy with home gifts. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), for example. Instead, he refused to occupy a state gift house.

No nation leader is able to lead Indonesia for life. That is what President Soeharto realized. He considers the power of the President and Vice President of Indonesia to have a limit. Especially after the term of office ended, both of them returned to being ordinary and aging citizens.

He also did not want the nation's future leaders to be ignored by the state. As an appreciation for contributing to the country, Suharto issued Law no. 7/1978 concerning the Financial Rights of the Administration of the President and Vice President or the former President and Vice President.

It contains none other than to guarantee the life of the nation's leaders who are leading or retired. One of these rules provides a former leader of the nation a decent and complete house with its equipment.

This provision was also strengthened by the presence of Presidential Decree No. 81/2004 on 27 December 2004 issued by Megawati Soekarnoputri. The presence of the Presidential Decree supported the previous law. However, Megawati limited the construction of houses intended for the President and Vice President of Indonesia to no more than Rp. 20 billion.

The Presidential Decree also regulates the state to provide a number of supports for house care, vehicles and drivers, electricity, water, telephone, and health costs. Everything is for the sake of ensuring the life of the former nation's leaders in old age.

According to the Minister of State Secretary, Bambang Kesowo, the president's decision refers to three laws, namely Law No. 7/1978 concerning the Financial Rights of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Administration or the Former President and Vice President, Law no. 17/2003 on State Finance, and Law no. 1/2004 on State Treasury. In accordance with the decision. Mega only received one house. Apparently, what is coveted is a house on Jalan Teuku Umar.

The gift of home for the former president and vice president is not new. A number of former vice presidents, such as Adam Malik, Umar Wirahadikusumah, Sudharmono, and Try Sutrisno have received the assistance. Uniquely, even the three former presidents have not received any. Suharto, for example, will receive the house mesangon when BJ Habibie became president. The plan was canceled due to a wave of protests that spread but was also given during Megawati', said Widiarsi Agustina and Sapto Pradityo in their report in Tempo Magazine entitled Old House (2004).

The home gift initiative was well received by all national leaders. However, not everyone agrees with the prize house. The 4th former President of Indonesia, Abdurrahman Wahid, for example. The man who is familiarly called Gus Dur is not very happy with a house gift located near the house of the former Vice President, Try Sutrisno in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Gus Dur thought owning a big house was not his priority. Because, he already has a house in Ciganjur, South Jakarta. He also wants the government to give his only. The Rp20 billion money is wanted to be used by Gus Dur to build Islamic boarding schools and study institutions at his home. Gus Dur aims to be closer to his congregation.

According to Gus Dur, this wish is quite reasonable. Moreover, Gus Dur assessed that President Suharto also asked for the raw only. Suharto received Rp26.6 billion. The money is to replace the price of land and building costs of Puri Jati Ayu's house which was built in the 1970s in the area around Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII).

However, the government did not heed his wish. Even though Gus Dur did not refuse to be given a house. However, he refused to live in Mega Kuningan. Moreover, his wife, Sinta Nuliyah chose to stay in Ciganjur. Gus Dur also thought about selling the house in the future when it reached a suitable price.

"Yes, now I'm just waiting for the price of the land to increase. Yes, it's up to IDR 50 billion, now it's still IDR 30 billion," said Gus Dur at the PBNU Headquarters as quoted on the Okezone page, April 15, 2008.