Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Indonesian regulations state that the President and Vice President will receive a memento from the state. Be it a house or land. President Joko Widodo will reportedly be given a house in Colomadu, Karanganyar, covering an area of 1,500 m2 when he finishes office in 2024.
This gift was also given to President Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati and SBY. Including several Indonesian Vice Presidents who accompanied him. However, there was also a president who did not get it, namely President Soekarno.
The confession of Soekarno’s third daughter, Rachmawati, is quoted from the book Bung Karno’s extended family, The family does not receive any pension, protection and facilities as a former president. Meanwhile, for President BJ Habibie, it is not known whether Habibie received a memento or not.
Then, what about President Suharto’s fate? So, does the president with the longest term of office, up to 32 years, receive a retirement gift from the state?
The answer is, yes. Only, in search CNBC Indonesia There are two different versions of this gift.
First version: IDR 20 billion
This was conveyed by someone close to him, namely Yusril Ihza Mahendra, in a joint interview CNN Indonesia2018 ago.
It should be noted that in 1996 Yusril was appointed as Special Staff to the Ministry of State Secretary. He is not only an advisor to the president, but specifically serves as the president’s speechwriter. He carried out this work until the end of President Soeharto’s rule. So, his closeness to Suharto no longer needs to be questioned.
In the interview, Yusril said that he had met Suharto when he was no longer in power on Jl. Sandalwood. This meeting took place when he was Minister of State Secretary under President SBY, 2004-2009.
Suharto expressed his desire to own a house as a retirement gift from the state. Because, he is the only one who has not received a house.
“Yes, the others have, anyway. Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) has been given a house. Megawati has. Yes, I haven’t,” said Yusril, imitating Suharto.
In fact, the Great General wanted to be given a house on Jl. Teuku Umar, Menteng. Unfortunately, that wish cannot come true. The reason is, the house there reaches IDR 75 billion, while the house allocated to the former president is worth a maximum of IDR 20 billion.
However, Suharto did not run out of ideas and tried to negotiate while joking.
“If that’s the case, then I’ll be president six times. That means six times Rp. 20 billion to Rp. 120 billion,” he said while laughing.
“No, sir. You only count once,” replied Yusril.
After that, Yusril admitted that discussions about the house were interrupted. Only then did they start talking again a month later when the legal expert came back to Cendana.
This time, Suharto no longer asked for a house or IDR 120 billion. He only wanted IDR 20 billion, according to regulations. The money will be used to renovate the old and damaged Cendana house.
As a result, Yusril submitted a request to the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani and with President SBY’s permission, Soeharto received a gift of IDR 20 billion.
Second version: Puri Jati Ayu house
|
Photo: Puri Jati Ayu, Suharto’s house behind the TMII Purnabhakti Museum. (Doc: X @detikcom)
Puri Jati Ayu, Suharto’s house behind the TMII Purnabhakti Museum. (Doc: X @detikcom) |
Quoting the site hmsoeharto.id, The house or Wisma Puri Jati Ayu is the house of the Suharto extended family which was founded in the 1970s by Tien Soeharto on land 10,000 m2 (other sources say 2,000-3,000 m2) which is in the TMII complex.
Tien founded it not only as a stopover, but also to preserve regional culture. The house design is known to be adopted from Balinese architecture and house philosophy. It is not known for certain when the construction of the guest house used private money or not. Including the question of the development budget.
When he steps down and enters retirement, Suharto is legally entitled to receive state gifts in the form of a house, vehicle, pension and other facilities mentioned in Law no. 7 of 1978 concerning Financial/Administrative Rights of the President and Vice President and Former President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.
However, when given a gift in the form of a house, Suharto refused and asked the state to reimburse the costs of building the Puri Jati Ayu house.
Quoting a magazine report Community Banner (1998), the government finally offered Soeharto “severance pay” in the form of compensation for the land price and the cost of building the Puri Jati Ayu house worth IDR 26.5 billion. Suharto is known to have received the money. Until now, the house still stands tall and can be seen by the public.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
(mfa/mfa)