Agus dos Santos, Dili – FRETILIN and PUN MPs have called on the Anti-Corruption Commission (KAK) to investigate the implementation of previous annual budgets by the National Parliament Secretariat. The MPs said they believed some money had been misused.
The demand came after Parliamentary Commission C asked the government to increase the 2012 parliamentary budget during the discussion between MPs and the executive body led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao yesterday.
The commission asked for the parliamentary budget of $13.707 million to be increased by $1.862 million.
Commission C president Manuel Tilman said the additional money was part of the parliamentary budget in the original proposal to the government published in the state bulletin, Jornal Republica, before the budget discussion began last week.
But, due to a communications problem between the Parliament Secretariat and the government, this money was left out of the general budget document that was taken to the parliament for discussion and approval, Mr Tilman said.
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said his government agreed with the additional budget for the parliament.
"No problem. We agree (to add) $1.862 million (because it is) the final year (budget) but I ask the (Parliament) Secretariat to have good communication with the (Ministry of) Finance," Mr Gusmao said.
Meanwhile, FRETILIN MP Osorio Florindo said some MPs had lost their right to receive funds, including petrol costs, because of problems within the Parliament Secretariat. Sometimes members of the secretariat's staff were not cooperative when it came to looking after MPs' transport costs, Mr Florindo said.
"(To get) the coupon every week MPs have to bow down or almost kiss the feet of staff who (are) responsible for the work. This is the problem," he said. Sometimes staff from other institutions, including PNTL, also used the parliament coupons, he added.
A proper investigation into the issue was needed, because the parliament had to be free of corruption, Mr Florindo said.
Meanwhile, PUN president MP Fernanda Borges said she did not agree with the addition to the parliament budget because she believed the budget was too large and would lead to corruption.
"(I) ask KAK to do (an) investigation into the parliament. If not, every day (the parliament) calls the government corrupt, but the parliament itself is corrupt," she said.
FRETILIN MP Antoninho Bianco said he wanted the government to explain where the additional money for the parliament would come from.
"The prime minister wants to add the money, (but) where to get the money?" Mr Bianco said. MPs from the Alliance Parliamentary Group defended the additional budget. The proposal was approved after 31 MPs voted in its favor, because they believe the increase will better facilitate the work of the parliament.
Meanwhile 18 MPs from FRETILIN and PUN voted against the proposal and seven MPs abstained.