Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The ruling coalition's controversial joint secretariat has backed a divisive proposal to grant each House of Representatives legislator a Rp 15 billion ($1.6 million) fund for their constituencies, Golkar Party says.

But other coalition members quickly expressed dissent. Setya Novanto, chairman of the Golkar faction in the House, said a meeting of the joint secretariat on Thursday night had supported a call to lobby the government to approve the fund.

"The secretariat will propose the plan for further discussion with the government," Setya said, adding similar plans had proved successful in the United States, the Philippines, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. "It's a way for legislators to give back to their constituents."

Hazrul Azwar, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) in the House, also said the coalition partners had agreed to formally raise the idea with the government.

He said differences remained over the amount of the development fund, with the PPP calling for Rp 10 billion per legislator. "We discussed the plan, and in principal we all support it," Hazrul said.

But Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker and House Deputy Speaker Anis Matta said his party was opposed to the plan.

He confirmed the coalition had discussed it, but denied there had been a consensus to adopt it. "The PKS held its own meeting later that night in which we rejected the plan," Anis said.

The National Mandate Party's (PAN) Asman Abnur also denied there had been an agreement at the secretariat meeting. "Certain individuals may have backed the plan, but not entire parties," he said.

Marwan Jaffar, from the National Awakening Party (PKB), said his party was in favor of the plan.

Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum said the ruling party was still evaluating the proposal. "It deals with huge amounts of money from the state budget that must be used accountably for the benefit of the people," he said.

Democrat and House Speaker Marzuki Alie was similarly cautious, saying such a program must be properly supervised. However, he said if properly implemented, it would prevent legislators from embezzling other funds.

"It will ensure they don't do anything illegal to fund development projects for their constituents," Marzuki said.

Political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi, from the Indonesian Survey Institute, denounced the idea as unconstitutional, saying those backing it were supporting "an evil plot to steal public money." "I believe the president must intervene and get the joint secretariat to reject the idea," he said.

Burhanuddin added that a similar program in the Philippines had only been a ploy to pacify parties in exchange for not disrupting government policies. "It's a scheme to seek rent from the state budget," he said.