Jakarta – Addressing concerns over the monthly allowance given to members of the Agency for the Implementation of the State Ideology of Pancasila (BPIP), which critics have called excessive, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati explained that these "financial rights" covered transportation, insurance and other operational expenses.
"Their basic salary is equal to that of other civil servants, which is Rp 5 million [US$356.61]. They also receive what we call a functional allowance of Rp 13 million, which is smaller than what is offered by other institutions," Sri said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.
The rest of the package, she added, would cover BPIP members' operational activities, such as transportation, meetings and telephone bills. Each member will also receive Rp 5 million for health insurance and life insurance.
According to Presidential Regulation No. 42/2018, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, as head of the BPIP's steering committee, is entitled to Rp 112.54 million per month in hak keuangan (financial rights).
However, the allowance does not include work trips. The government would set aside a portion of the state budget to cover additional needs, Sri Mulyani added.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo signed on May 23 a decree on the financial rights of BPIP members, including former Constitutional Court justice Mahfud MD.
BPIP head Yudi Latif, who is entitled to Rp 76.5 million a month, said most of those working for the BPIP were respected senior officials who had never demanded any financial compensation for their work.
"In the [BPIP] directors board, no one is complaining about the salary. As head of the BPIP, my position is at the same level as that of a minister, but I was given a different salary. I accept any amount [the government] will give me," Yudi said in a written statement released on Tuesday.
Yudi added that his staff had worked for a year without being paid. (dpk/evi)