A not too pleasant surprise<\/p>\n
When I read the article Government steps up anticorruption
\ncampaign on the front page of the July 7 edition, my reaction
\ncould not be described as anything but surprise, happiness and
\npride that at last the government was going in the right
\ndirection. The government has uncovered 3,025 cases of corruption
\nthat cost the state Rp 7.21 trillion in losses.<\/p>\n
Starting from May 20, 2000, high officials will be obliged to
\ndeclare their assets, according to Minister of Justice Muladi. I
\npresume minister Muladi felt proud to announce this new
\nregulation, which is not new at all, because during Soeharto's
\nregime all officials were obliged to declare their wealth and the
\nwealth of their families. But usually regulations are issued as a
\nfashion and are just to be conveniently forgotten.<\/p>\n
But fighting corruption is not a matter of how many decrees or
\nregulations the government issues, or how many nongovernmental
\nbodies are created, but a matter of strong political will and
\ndetermination of the government and whether it has the courage to
\nact irrespective of the position of the accused. The same
\ntreatment should be applied to friends and foes.<\/p>\n
Recently there was a case of corruption supposedly involving
\nthe Indonesian attorney general, reported by the Indonesian
\nCorruption Watch (ICW). Although slow according to the people,
\nthe government had the courage to act and the attorney general
\nwas temporarily dismissed from his position.<\/p>\n
Now under the very nose of the central government, a report
\nappeared on page 3 of The Jakarta Post of July 7. The minister of
\nhome affairs should act on this and take steps to investigate the
\nreport. What Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso did smells of corruption,
\nmisusing funds for his personal benefit.<\/p>\n
Government funds have reportedly been used to pay for his
\nchild's education abroad and to buy 20 luxury cars. The very
\nfirst reaction we will read in newspapers is a denial, which is a
\nvery common thing.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, besides his salary of Rp 2.5 million, receives
\n\"honorary fees\" from at least 17 city owned firms. Suppose each
\nfirm pays Rp 2 million a month, then he has an extra income of Rp
\n34 million a month. Without realizing it I begin to water at the
\nmouth.<\/p>\n
Readers will be more surprised when they read Media
\nIndonesia's report of June 24, 1998, page 5, that the Jakarta
\nlegislative council (DPRD) allocated Rp 11.2 billion for the
\ngovernor to spend in one year (repeat one year). For his
\nhousehold expenses, the DPRD DKI allocated Rp 8.2 billion
\nannually, or about Rp 600 million a month. It is a surprise that
\nhe is still healthy, while overeating every day. For his
\nclothing, the allocation is Rp 105 million, almost Rp 9 million a
\nmonth; the maintenance of official cars about Rp 175 million; Rp
\n200 million for his official travel expenses, and this is only
\nfor traveling around Jakarta. Why would Sutiyoso need to use
\nother government funds?<\/p>\n
I think the central government (the Attorney General's Office)
\nshould take steps to investigate this matter, based of course on
\nthe principle of presumption of innocence. This case would be
\neasier because Sutiyoso at this moment, I think, is a civilian.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-not-too-pleasant-surprise-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }