Ezra Sihite & Markus Junianto Sihaloho – House of Representatives speaker Marzuki Alie defended the Rp 48 billion ($5.3 million) the government had allotted for leaders of the House, insisting the budget was reasonable.
"The cost is a consequence of so many [necessary House leader] activities," Marzuki said. "If you don't want to spend any money, that's easy. We'll just sleep, go to our offices and go home."
The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) criticized on Wednesday the funds earmarked for lawmakers and House leaders, accusing them of excessive, inefficient spending.
"Just look at all of the House leaders' activities," Marzuki added. "Everything is related to the needs of the people. We fight for the people. Look at how many letters I have sent to various ministries after my visits to different parts of the country."
Taufik Kurniawan, the House deputy speaker on public welfare, said the House had tried to make its spending more efficient by limiting overseas trips.
"The House has saved around 60 percent of state funds because we now require [House leader] approval for trips, so there is no wasteful spending anymore," the National Mandate Party politician said.
Taufik said he tried to avoid using state funds on overseas trips by personally financing every expense, including those incurred during an inspection of this year's hajj.
Fitra had accused Taufik of personally receiving more than a quarter of the Rp 48 billion earmarked for House leaders this year. According to the budget watchdog, House deputy speaker Priyo Budi Santoso of the Golkar Party spent Rp 11.8 billion in 2011 while the deputy speaker on the economy, Anis Matta, spent Rp 8.7 billion.
Deputy speaker on mining and industry Pramono Anung spent Rp 7.7 billion for his trips while Marzuki spent Rp 7.4 billion, Fitra said.
"I always return state funds to finance my overseas trips. [House] overseas trips are accountable and transparent," Taufik said.
Fitra also criticized the Rp 251 billion that was allocated to lawmakers for travel to their respective regions during this year's recess period.
Uchok Sky Khadafi, the budget watchdog's advocacy coordinator, said the trips – meant to allow lawmakers to meet with their constituents – were ineffective.
Fitra accused some lawmakers of using the funds just to go back to their hometowns for visits or to take vacations.
The House of Representatives said the programs were worth the investment.
"I think everything has been e ffective and it is not a waste of money," said Refrizal, deputy chairman of the Household Affairs Committee.
Refrizal said the trips were necessary to monitor officials, government agencies and state-run companies.
"From the House's monitoring efforts alone, we can save hundreds of trillions [of rupiah] in state funds, maybe thousands of trillions," he said. The recess started last weekend. Lawmakers are expected to return to work as early as the third week of January.