Jakarta – The anti-graft commission should keep an eye out for legislators insisting on the construction of an expensive new parliamentary building, the plans for which are suspected to be mired in corruption, a member of the House of Representatives says.
Legislator Gayus Lumbuun of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) told The Jakarta Post Monday that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should scrutinize the parties persisting that the proposed Rp 1.2 trillion (US$133.2 million) construction of the new House building continue.
"House Deputy Speaker Taufik Kurniawan spoke Monday to a local newspaper, hinting that 'illicit perks' had been distributed to some parties in this process," Gayus said.
According to Rakyat Merdeka daily, Taufik suggested that, owing to indications of corruption, the plan should be stopped, and the KPK should investigate the case. He refused to name legislators who had allegedly received such illegal perks. Taufik could not be reached for further comment on Monday.
The controversy over the new House building has been ongoing, with the public harshly censuring not only the exorbitant construction costs but also proposed recreational facilities, including a swimming pool, a massage facility and a spa inside the new structure.
As the consequence of increased public criticism, on Sept. 6, House Speaker Marzuki Alie announced that the construction – originally scheduled to start in October – would be postponed.
Gayus also lamented the fact that Marzuki seemed to have down-played the exorbitant construction cost by saying that this was relatively small compared to the country's current state budget of Rp 1,200 trillion.
Marzuki, who is from the Democratic Party, told the Post funds for the House construction had been allocated from a three-fiscal-year budget cycle.
"The plan is currently pending further evaluation by a technical team. The evaluation results will be shared and consulted with party leaders," Marzuki said, adding that the decision to determine whether or not a new building was necessary would eventually be decided by House members.
Commenting on the indications of possible corruption in the planned development, Marzuki said, "We should not provoke or issue any statements that will create further problems. If such allegations prove to be true, I would call the KPK to probe the matter."
KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the commission had not received any evidence that corroborated allegations of corruption.
"We can't work if it is based only on rumors. If the public has evidence related to the issue, I recommend they disclose it to the commission," he said.
Meanwhile, Wa Ode Nurhayati, a member of the House Affairs Committee tasked with discussing and approving the construction plan, said she had no comment on allegations of corruption.
"[Corruption] happens everywhere. In the case of the new House building, I personally don't know and don't want to enter that domain," she said. "If it exists, I haven't seen such indications," Nurhayati of the National Mandate Party (PAN) added. (tsy)