Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – While all eyes are on the House of Representatives (DPR) for alleged extortion by several lawmakers, the legislative body is proceeding with its unpopular plan to spend Rp 8 billion (US$832,896) on renovations.
The renovation projects have not yet begun but the House secretariat has opened tenders inviting companies to bid for the projects.
According to proposals available on the official House website the projects consist of a Rp 1 billion renovation of the main fences, Rp 730 million repairs to the water-proof floors in the meeting hall, Rp 1.4 billion toilet renovations and a Rp 6.3 billion refurbishment of lawmakers' offices.
House secretary-general Nining Indra Saleh said the renovation projects were needed because 145 toilets in the House complex were broken, 18 of which were seriously damaged.
In addition, several parts of the fencing encircling the House site are damaged and immediate refurbishment is needed to prevent them collapsing.
"We've allocated between Rp 2 million and Rp 4 million for each less-damaged toilet and around Rp 20 million for those which are in a critical condition," Nining said.
Nining, who has been summoned twice by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a witness in different graft cases, added that her office had allocated around Rp 50 million for the renovation of each of the lawmakers' 197 offices that needed maintenance.
"None of the offices needs serious work. We only need to change the wallpapers and air conditioners, for example, or replace dirty carpets. This is only for maintenance in order to keep state assets in good condition," Nining said.
According to Nining, the renovations are based on lawmakers' requests, and have been approved by the House's secretariat and Household Affairs Committee (BURT), which is chaired by House Speaker Marzuki Alie.
Speaking to the press separately, Marzuki called for the cancellation of some of the renovation projects arguing that the House complex was generally in good condition.
"I don't think that we need to renovate lawmakers' offices until the end of their terms. We don't need to change the fences either. The House needs to wisely use state funds especially as the public is apparently disappointed by our performance," Marzuki told reporters on Wednesday.
The House's secretariat aims to begin the renovations later this month, finishing them by the end of this year, which, according to the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA), is suspicious.
"We sense that the House is imposing its plan. This will potentially lead to corruption because officials of the secretariat might mark up prices for the renovations in order to use state funds that are allocated for the project," FITRA coordinator Uchok Sky Khadafi said.
Uchok suggested the House cancel the renovation plans and reschedule the project for next year. "I know that the decision will taint the budget performance of the House's secretary-general, but it will protect them from more public criticism over misuse of taxpayers' money," he said.
Earlier this year, the House was criticized for wasting Rp 20.3 billion to unnecessarily renovate the House's budget committee room, procuring luxurious furniture to expand the capacity of the room.
Previously, the House was criticized for purchasing fingerprint-scanning devices to encourage lawmakers to attend hearings.
The Rp 279 million devices apparently failed in this endeavor as more than half of the total 560 lawmakers skipped at least two of the latest plenary meetings.