Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Golkar Party proposal to allocate Rp 15 billion (US$1.64 million) from 2011 state funds for each legislator as "aspiration funds" is likely to grow into another political fracas between the country's second-largest political party and its ruling coalition partners.
Three of the other five parties in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's coalition government officially rejected the proposal, which Golkar claimed was intended to help people in underdeveloped regions.
"PAN [National Mandate Party] will take a stand before the joint secretariat and reject Golkar's proposal," the party's deputy chairman Bima Arya Sugiarto said.
Sugiarto refered to the coalition's joint secretariat, which is headed by Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie. The secretariat was established one day after former finance minister Sri Indrawati Mulyani announced her resignation.
Mulyani, who some regard as a reform icon, previously made public her enmity with Bakrie.
"If legislators feel their constituencies need more money, it is their duty to convince the executive of their needs," Bima said.
"The proposal will tarnish the image of the House of Representatives. Golkar had best not force the joint secretariat to approve it and respect the political stances of other parties in the coalition."
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) deputy secretary-general Zulkiflimansyah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the proposal was "neither popular nor productive".
"It's a brave and reasonable proposal. Our constituents demand real things, such as donations, from legislators when they make visits to regions," Zulkiflimansyah said.
"Due to a lack of explanation to the public and the media, this has become a sensitive and unpopular issue, to which the PKS must object," he added.
Another member of the coalition, the National Awakening Party (PKB), said the "aspiration funds" scheme would only benefit legislators. Party chairman Muhaimin Iskandar said the idea would backfire and reduce Golkar's popularity ahead of the 2014 legislative elections.
Bakrie told reporters Saturday that Golkar would fight for government and House approval of the proposal. A total of Rp 8.4 trillion in "aspiration funds" for the House's 560 legislators would benefit the people, not legislators, he said.
"Don't make the mistake of thinking that the funds will slip into legislators' pockets," he said.
The Democratic Party has not issued an official statement, though deputy chairman Ahmad Mubarok expressed personal opposition to the plan. The United Development Party, another coalition member, remained undecided on the issue, according to a party official.
Legislators will be easily tempted by Golkar's proposed Rp 15 billion fund and may approve it, said University of Indonesia political observer Arbi Sanit.
"If that happens, Aburizal will have an even stronger grip on members of the coalition and have even more power to determine the positions of the joint secretariat," Arbi said.