Marzuki said the cost was abnormal and therefore KPK and BPK had to investigate it to see if there had been corruption in the project.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House Speaker Marzuki Alie was outraged on hearing that the cost of renovating the meeting room of the House Budget Committee reached Rp20 billion and had asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate it.

He said here on Wednesday he had already asked the KPK and the BPK (State Audit Board) to conduct an investigation into the project.

He said the cost was abnormal and therefore KPK and BPK had to investigate it to see if there had been corruption in the project.

"I was stunned when told by newsmen that the cost of the renovation was Rp20 billion. I was even more shocked after the secretary general confirmed it. Therefore, I have asked KPK and BPK to interfere and check if irregularities have happened," he said.

Marzuki said the cost was not appropriate. "If they said they used imported items I would say that it hurts the people. Why would they not use domestic products," he said.

"They said it has high tech facilities. What is high tech. It is just a meeting room. Everywhere it is relatively the same across the world. Differences if there were would be very small," he said.

Marzuki said he was shocked when told by newsmen that the project was about to finish while asking about the conscience of the people in the secretariat general.

"I have often said (we must) use only what is needed, the modest ones but very useful. Like in procurement of computers that are used only for typing we must not seek the ones with a lot of specifications, which certainly would be very expensive. If we can use "jangkrik" (locally assembled) computers that cost only around Rp3 million a unit why should we buy the ones with many specifications," he said.

Marzuki said he would take actions to the secretariat general staff that were proven manipulating the project. As a speaker and chairman of the House of Representatives Household Affairs he had never been informed about it.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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