Ezra Sihite – House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso asked the media on Tuesday to back of criticizing the legislature in the wake of a series of budget scandals, saying the ongoing coverage was unfair.

"It will be only fair if you compare all of this with what happened across all other ministries and state institutions," Priyo told journalists, "then you can judge which one is wrong or which one is a really big issue."

The politician from Golkar party said he was surprised by the negative reaction and then claimed that most members of the House, also known as the DPR, new nothing about the budget details of ongoing construction and renovation activities. "If everyone only focuses on the House, well it's not going to be good," he said.

Asked directly about the latest scandal – a Rp 1.3 billion ($143,000) bill to print a calendar featuring the faces of the House's own leadership – Priyo again attempted to deflect criticism.

"I want all ministries and institutions, from the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Supreme Audit Agency, etc, to be checked to see if they made calenders or not," Priyo said, "if their budgets are bigger than the House's, please publicize it too."

He said the media should make a list of which government department made the "most luxurious" calender. "Don't put all of this to us," he said.