Shameful Transactional Politics

Once again, members of the House of Representatives (DPR) have shown their cunning in the way they work. They have been successful, but not in their work to enact laws. Instead, they have managed to secure funding to construct new buildings for themselves. The state budget, which it was feared might go beyond its deadline, was suddenly passed into law. One day before the recess, the DPR approved the budget. For this 'smart' move, the DPR awarded itself a funding of Rp564 billion.

There are signs that the budget for the construction of DPR buildings was the result of a bargain with the executive branch. Initially, the DPR proposed Rp740 billion. No one knew which building was to be completed first. Shockingly, the DPR dreamed of carrying out seven construction projects with a total value of Rp2.7 trillion. But subsequently this was toned down to three projects at a cost of Rp2.08 trillion. These were to be paid for out of the state budget in phases within three years: fiscal years 2016, 2017 and 2018. President Joko Widodo was inclined to reject this. He even refused to sign the comemorative plaque for the megaproject when he visited the DPR on August 16.