Jakarta. Indonesia’s parliament is facing criticism over a Rp 50 million ($3,067) monthly housing allowance for each lawmaker, with analysts calling it out of touch with the economic hardships faced by most citizens.

The benefit amounts to nearly ten times the highest regional minimum wage in Indonesia, and up to twenty times the monthly minimum wage in poorer districts. In addition to the housing allowance, lawmakers also receive a fixed salary and various other perks that can push their total monthly compensation above Rp 100 million ($6,134), according to public policy expert Achmad Nur Hidayat.

“An income package of up to Rp 100 million per month deeply hurts the public’s sense of fairness,” Achmad told BeritaSatu TV. “Just for housing allowances alone, covering 575 lawmakers over a five-year term, the state must spend Rp 1.73 trillion ($106 million).”

Criticism Over Performance
Achmad argued that such generous compensation should be matched by improved legislative performance. Instead, he said, parliament’s credibility has eroded.

“Recent surveys show the DPR [House of Representatives] and MPR [People’s Consultative Assembly] as the least trusted institutions,” he noted.

He added that during the past year, lawmakers have yet to produce high-quality laws that defend public interests. “Many public policy debates today are sparked not by parliamentary oversight, but by the vigilance of internet users. Parliament appears reactive -- too little, too late.”

Regional Comparisons
Lawmaker benefits in Indonesia also stand out compared with regional peers. In Malaysia, members of parliament earn about RM 16,000 ($3,400) per month, including allowances, but housing support is modest and generally reserved for ministers. 

In the Philippines, legislators receive salaries of around ₱273,000 ($4,700) per month, supplemented by allowances, but housing benefits are not provided on the same scale.

In Singapore, where lawmakers receive among the highest salaries in the world, MPs earn about S$192,500 ($141,000) annually, though this is tied to the city-state’s high cost of living and accountability benchmarks. Indonesia’s Rp 50 million housing stipend thus appears unusually generous relative to its economic base and income disparities.

Parliament Defends the Allowance
Responding to the criticism, DPR Secretary-General Indra Iskandar explained that the Rp 50 million monthly housing allowance was introduced because lawmakers in the 2024–2029 term do not receive official housing.

DPR Deputy Speaker Adies Kadir defended the figure, calling it reasonable given market conditions. He said rental prices in neighborhoods near the DPR complex can reach over Rp 70 million per month, forcing lawmakers to top up the difference from their own pockets.

“I think Rp 50 million per month makes sense for lawmakers. Leaders of the DPR do not receive the allowance because they are already provided with official residences,” Adies said.

He also stressed that the increase only applies to the housing allowance, while lawmakers’ base salaries and other benefits remain unchanged.