Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Twelve lawmakers currently visiting Argentina for a nine-day "comparative study" tour – of which seven days are reserved for sightseeing – have been criticized in light of the current economic climate.

Critics said Sunday the lawmakers were "insensitive" for spending state money on the "costly" trip while Indonesians on lower incomes endured economic hardship.

Effendi Ghazali, a noted political communications expert from the University of Indonesia, joined the chorus of opposition against the trip, calling on House of Representatives members to be "thrifty" as food and fuel prices rise.

"The lawmakers just can't sense people's feelings. They are now facing worsening image problems and lack of trust from the people," he said. "The trip just made their image worse."

He said the lawmakers could learn about the election system of another country without having to visit that country. "They could have invited people from the embassy, or invited Argentinian experts to Jakarta. That would have saved a lot of money," Effendi said.

The 12 lawmakers, all members of the House's special team on the presidential election bill, left Jakarta on May 12 this year. Another 16 people joined the entourage, comprising 12 House staff members, two lawmakers' wives, one lawmaker's husband and one staff member's wife.

The lawmakers, from various factions in the House, have claimed they needed to undertake a comparative study on the presidential election system in Argentina.

But the agenda of the visit only allocated two days for the study, while the remaining seven days were used for city tours and sightseeing. The lawmakers and their staff each received "pocket money" of US$500 per day, excluding hotel fees and expenses for food and tickets.

"That means they are spending billions of rupiah on such a useless trip. I guess the trip was merely an excuse for lawmakers to go picnic abroad," Danang Widyoko from Indonesia Corruption Watch said.

House leaders, however, defended the trip as normal and not violating any regulations. House Speaker Agung Laksono said it was necessary for the presidential bill team members to visit a country with a better democratic system.

Although it was legal, Danang argued, the trip sent a strong signal that the House failed to care about what most people felt ahead of the government's plan to increase fuel prices.

"It shows the thriftiness movement promoted by the elite was an empty word. The lawmakers should be among the first to display an economical life," he said.

"Cutting unnecessary spending will be highly appreciated by the public in times like this, and can slowly fix the House's image following various scandals that hit scores of its members," he said.