The Golkar Party proposed initiative, dubbed pork barrel, raised many questions. It is much condemned, but it is still rolling down due to SBY's indecisiveness. (see Reference #1). The idea helping people by direct intervention seems ridiculous, because it is not their main job. The lawmakers' much expected job is to make good law and oversee the government's job. If they can do this well, they have already fulfilled our hopes.
Our country has been transforming itself from centralized development to decentralization one. It has been done since 1999 and until now problems still appears. We call it decentralization, but why 70% our budget is controlled by central government. (see Reference #2). This imbalance budget shed light on still-uneven development. This is one root of problems that has to be firstly handled.
And even though that 30% of central government budget will be allocated to regional government, the new anxiety emerges. The Supreme Audit Agency, BPK's report shows most of local government fails to perform satisfactory financial statement. (see Reference #3)
Moreover, we have several overlapping of budget and development due to our still-improving system. Until now it is not clear who is really in charge in province. Is it the directly-elected governor who actually has no area but has own development program on it or is it the also-directly-elected regent/mayor who has the real area and own development program. The theory it can be done by dividing the job, but the practice shows it can't. My friend in a Ministry told me that overlapping happened. Some equipment from the central government's budget had been sent arbitrarily to a regency and the regency's officers did not know what to do with the equipment because they have no program on it.
In short, many problems have arisen concerning with regional development and they have to be handled right off the bat. So lawmakers, if you want to contribute something during your term, just use your own 'tools and vehicles' to make or change law. Those actions will be more useful for our country rather than to give money or projects directly to your constituent and inappropriately hope that they will vote for you in the next election.
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