Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – It took Rp 40 billion (US$4.52 million) of the state budget, a major property eviction and protests from millions of citizens to make lawmakers surrender their plans for a new office compound.
Leaving the project idle for months, the House of Representatives announced on Thursday that it had suspended the Rp 1.3 trillion ($146.9 million) project. Its Household Affairs Committee (BURT) has returned Rp 800 billion to the state that had been allocated for the project this year.
BURT deputy chairman Refrizal said that the House leadership came to the decision after the project was met with widespread protests. "The funds were returned to the state through the revised [2011] state budget to avoid them sitting idle, when they could be used to help accelerate the development of strategic industries," he said.
Initiated in 2009, the new building project came into the media spotlight after the eviction of Taman Ria Senayan, once an iconic amusement park in Jakarta.
It gained stronger criticism early this year after the release of the grand design of the building that had swallowed up Rp 40 billion in consultation fees.
Detractors said the project value was overestimated and that the huge sum should be allocated to the poor. They suggested that lawmakers make the best of their current building.
Refrizal said the House's secretary-general would explain how they spent the consultation money to the Supreme Audit Agency. "BURT will report on the decision while the House's secretary-general will answer when the Supreme Audit Agency assesses the suspended project," he said.
BURT member Djamal Azis said the household committee that coordinated with the House's secretary-general in handling the project returned the initial budget after an agreement with House leaders to suspend the project.
"The House will not tackle the project and leave the matter to the government on whether it is necessary to build a new building for the House or not. BURT will no longer push for the new building because it is not earmarked for the current 560 legislators," he said.
Djamal regretted the project's suspension, saying the House really needed a new building to allow legislators to do their jobs optimally.
"The House building's capacity can no longer accommodate the 560 legislators and their supporting staff, including secretaries, administrative personnel and experts, and the room for a legislator is far smaller than the presidential office, although they are at the same level in the Constitution," he said.
Following strong opposition from the public, House factions have been at loggerheads over the project, with the People's Conscience Party, Great Indonesia Movement Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the National Mandate Party all opposing the project.
Deputy House Speaker Pramono Anung Wibowo appreciated the project's suspension, as it had been demanded by numerous factions. According to him, the project's suspension would take effect until 2014, "and if the next House lifts the suspension, a new building can be constructed".
He admitted that the House was in need of a new hall to provide standard rooms for legislators, but it was deemed the wrong time due to economic difficulties.