Anita Rachman – A state budget watchdog has released another eyebrow-raising report, showing House members collectively spend Rp 151 billion ($18 million) on phone bills each year.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) stated that House members were allocated exorbitant funds for cell phone credit. It stated that the House members received Rp 14 million each month for phone credit and an additional Rp 102 million each year for during the recess periods.

"Every year, each lawmaker receives Rp 168 million for phone credit and Rp 102 for recess periods. Therefore, in total, each lawmaker receives Rp 270 million per year for phone credit alone," said Ucok Sky Khadafi, from Fitra.

In total, the state allocates Rp 151 billion to lawmakers to spend on phone credit. "This is a total waste of state funds, it's too much," Ucok said. "In fact, it might end up in their pockets and not for communications."

He said that the allocation was extremely unfair given that there were still so many people in Indonesia living below the poverty line.

However, a lawmaker from Democratic Party Roy Suryo, said that each lawmaker got Rp 1.5 million to Rp 2 million for communications. "I forget the exact figure, but it's around that amount," he said, adding that it was House staffers that managed lawmakers' personal budgets.