Moh Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Activist Ubedillah Badrun on Tuesday criticized members of the House of Representatives (DPR) after news emerged suggesting that DPR had submitted an IDR 48.7 billion budget to spend on replacing curtains in their official residence.

"[They] waste money while many people are currently suffering," said Ubedillah in his statement on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. "Are House legislators unable to sleep if the curtains are not replaced?"

Badrun, who is known for his activism in Indonesia's reformation era in 1998, believes House legislators have completely lost empathy for the general public and suggested the budget be used to help impoverished communities that are struggling amid the pandemic.

Badrun insisted that such spending by legislators funded by taxpayer money will be a major waste because he is certain that many of DPR members do not even live in their appointed official residences.

The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) has also criticized DPR's decision to submit billions of Rupiah from the State Budget and called the move insensitive towards people's suffering, especially amidst rising commodity prices and layoffs.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1576121/dpr-idr-48-billion-curtain-replacement-budget-under-heavy-criticis