Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House Speaker Marzuki Alie called on all parties not to "politicize" the government`s plan to raise cabinet ministers` salaries.

Speaking to the press here Tuesday, he appealed to all parties to be "realistic" in considering the matter.

"Do not politicize it. Let us be realistic. Do not make judgments based on like or dislike, approval or disapproval," he said.

Marzuki said political parties must not be suspicious about the idea behind the plan. After all, he said, ministers` salaries had not been raised for the past five years . "So it is normal for a minister to receive a reasonable salary because he/she bears heavy responsibilities," he said.

"Let me ask you. May or the salaries of the ministers be raised or may they not. I do not talk numbers but they have never been raised for the past five years," he said.

The secretary general of President Yudhoyono`s Democrat Party said
the salaries of civil servants had even risen every year while inflation continued to rise and goods prices also continued to go up, in support of the ministers` salaries` hike.

"We know ministers work for the country so their responsibilities are big," he said.

Marzuki said that the ministers` workloads which were also heavy were also among the considerations for raising their salaries. "With a reasonable salary a minister must be able to account for his/her performance to the people," he said.

Therefore, the work contracts they had signed would become very significant. "I they fail to meet it, the minister concerned must resign. So the reward and punishment is clear," he said.

The deputy chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Lukman Hakim Saefudin, however had asked for a review of the plan to raise the ministers` salaries, saying it was "unethical."

"This is very sensitive. So I think it is not ethical to raise their salaries while many people are still suffering," he said.

He said the people in West Sumatra and other regions were still fighting for recovery following the recent powerful quakes.

"We have just experienced a series of earthquakes while the people`s economic burden is heavier following rising prices. So
raising the salaries of state officials would be unethical," he said.

He said the salaries and allowances of the ministers were already more than sufficient. "Indeed it is relative to talk about being sufficient or not sufficient. The important thing is they feel they have enough," he said.(*)