A bad precedent<\/p>\n
How to read Gus Dur? This question has become a frequent topic
\nof conversation around the country since President Abdurrahman
\n\"Gus Dur\" Wahid became Indonesia's first democratically elected
\npresident in October last year.<\/p>\n
During the seven months he has been in power, he has managed
\nto upset friends and foes and politicians and legislators by
\nmaking controversial statements. He has risked lawsuits by making
\nunproven accusations of corruption or other wrongdoings by
\npoliticians, and even members of his own Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Little wonder that although there are still many Indonesians
\nwho like him, if only because of his populist image and
\nunceremonious style, there are others who seem to have had their
\nfill of the President's verbal antics and are looking for ways --
\nat least Abdurrahman so believes -- to hurt the democratically
\nelected leader in August, when the People's Consultative Assembly
\nmeets to either accept or reject his accountability speech. If
\nonly for that reason alone, one would think, the President is
\nwell advised to be careful of what he does, and how he does it.<\/p>\n
To the frustration of his supporters, however, the President
\nhas so far shown little intention to correct his erratic behavior
\nor change his style. He has even given his opponents further
\nammunition by neglecting to correct his habit of using his
\nprivate bank account to keep large amounts of money that have
\nbeen donated for government administrative purposes. By doing so
\nPresident Abdurrahman is also setting a bad precedent for future
\nIndonesian chief executives.<\/p>\n
Two latest cases in point are donations from the Sultan of
\nBrunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah, amounting to US$2 million
\nfor relief work in Aceh, and another of Rp 1 billion from an
\nIndonesian businessman, which went largely to the funding of the
\nrecently concluded Papua People's Congress in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
One may reason that money meant for state use must not be kept
\nin a leader's personal bank account. For Abdurrahman, however,
\nwho seems to see nothing wrong in taking his pesantren (Islamic
\nboarding school) background with him into the presidential
\noffice, it makes no difference where the money is kept so long as
\nit is not stolen. Besides, money given with obvious good
\nintentions must not be refused, but must be accepted in the same
\nspirit in which it is given.<\/p>\n
Certainly, no one is accusing the President of
\nmisappropriating the money or keeping it his personal bank
\naccount for any other reason than he says: to avoid red tape and
\nmake it easier to cash if or when it is needed. On the other
\nhand, his critics in this matter are equally right when they say
\nthe practice is highly irregular and makes the money prone to
\nmisuse.<\/p>\n
There is, as yet, no law governing gifts to the head of state.
\nNeither is there any clear precedent. It is not clear where
\nIndonesia's first president, Sukarno, kept money and other gifts
\nor how they were managed. Former president Soeharto is known to
\nhave kept donations in the bank accounts of foundations
\nestablished especially for that purpose. Where other gifts are
\nkept is not exactly clear, although presumably both Sukarno and
\nSoeharto put them in either of the six state palaces.<\/p>\n
In any case, it seems to be time that a law be drafted to
\ngovern such gifts. This is not only to avoid further confusion in
\nthe future, but also to make sure that gifts, donations and
\npresents are properly managed and used for the purpose
\ndesignated. In addition, by regulating what is or is not
\nappropriate, it could save our future presidents from having to
\nsuffer any unnecessary assaults on his or her integrity, which
\nis, after all, of greater value than any present anyone could
\ngive.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-bad-precedent-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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