Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – The much-criticized House of Representatives has finally bowed to public pressure to suspend the Rp 1.3 trillion new House building construction project, after the household committee (BURT) returned to the state Rp 800 billion that was allocated as the initial budget for the project.

BURT deputy chairman Refrizal on Thursday said the Rp 800 billion had been returned to the government.

"The funds were returned to the state through the revised [2011] state budget to avoid it sitting idle, when it could be used by the government to help accelerate the development of the strategic industries such as PT PAL, PT Pindad, PT Dirgantara Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara Airlines that are currently facing financial difficulties," he said.

The new building project had drawn a strong opposition from the public, including corruption watchdogs that said the House did not deserve the new building because many current buildings in the parliament compound were not being utilized optimally.

Observers also accused the House of lacking a sense of crisis, because until now there are still many Indonesian people living in poverty. Asked to comment on the huge amount of funds paid as consultation fees and for the grand design for the new building, Refrizal said the House's secretariat-general should answer to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).