Another latent danger<\/p>\n
Talk of the anti-corruption drive has died down recently. And
\nwhile Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja seems sincere in his
\ndesire to clean up the city bureaucracy, reality has yet to meet
\ntheoretical intention.<\/p>\n
Can public service continue functioning as corruption
\nflourishes in the shadows? The answer is still in the distance.
\nOnly days ago Surjadi complained again of the poor condition of
\nthe city's public service offices. His statement on Tuesday
\nblaming corrupt employees for the administration's worsening
\npublic services implies the serious need for outside help.<\/p>\n
His city is not only the seat of the central government but
\nalso the country's capital, where rich and corrupt officials feel
\nfree to flaunt their wealth in the faces of a public inured to
\nthe life of the privileged.<\/p>\n
Illicit dealings in the public administration have left the
\npublic on very unsure ground. Most have no idea of where to
\nregister a complaint when they are being victimized by officials
\nin the city administration's licensing business, to cite but one
\nexample. The many branches of the supervisory agencies have
\natrophied, impeding progress and leaving the system open to
\nabuse.<\/p>\n
Corruption has long affected the local administrations in many
\ndeveloping countries, where graft often becomes a part of
\nnational culture. Some, however, are fighting this breach of
\npublic trust. Malaysia has successfully kept its administration
\nclean thanks to the supremacy of law and the existence of \"social
\ncensorship\", which allows citizens to report suspicious dealings.
\nOther countries have seen corruption buried together with corrupt
\nregimes.<\/p>\n
Many allege that illegal practices are the natural consequence
\nof underpaid civil servants. Unfortunately, there is little truth
\nto the statement. Almost three decades ago, the government
\nembarked on an operation to raise the salaries of excise and duty
\nemployees. After increasing their salaries nine times, the civil
\nservants were found to be no less corrupt than before.<\/p>\n
Others blame consumerism for worsening public morale. This
\ntheory might be closer to reality. Two decades have passed since
\nwe have seen an anti-graft campaign, which is likely due to a
\nlack of political will on the part of the authorities who do not
\nsee graft as a national threat. The situation will continue to
\ndeteriorate unless a solid checks and balances system is put in
\nplace.<\/p>\n
Despite this pessimistic reality, we still hope that the
\nsituation can be improved with the rise of a middle class. Many
\nof its members come from the business community, which will
\nhopefully demand the administration's sincerity if it wants them
\nto be sincere tax payers.<\/p>\n
The IMF and the World Bank can help us improve the situation
\nby intensifying their control of efficiency in the countries
\nwhich receive their aid.<\/p>\n
Before this hope can become a reality, however, Governor
\nSurjadi can do something to set his Jakarta house in order. If we
\nare to take his statement seriously, he should begin with his own
\nofficials, whose expensive cars fill the mayoralty's parking lots
\nlong before the people arrive in need of their services. Despite
\nsalaries that range between Rp 200,000 and Rp 350,000 (US$100 and
\n$180) a month, many still live in the comfort of luxurious homes.<\/p>\n
Perhaps this is the latent danger threatening national
\nstability.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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