Anwar to lead BPK in 2004-2009<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Anwar Nasution, former deputy senior governor of the central
\nbank, has been named chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK)
\n-- a state body overseeing the use of state funds in the budget
\nand state institutions by both the central and local governments.<\/p>\n
A decree on Anwar's appointment has been signed by outgoing
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, State\/Cabinet Secretary Bambang
\nKesowo confirmed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"It was under Presidential Decree No. 185M dated today,\"
\nBambang told reporters.<\/p>\n
The signing of the decree, although made on her last day in
\noffice, should end months of confusion since the House of
\nRepresentatives had submitted the names of candidates for both
\nthe chairmanship and membership of the body in June.<\/p>\n
BPK Law No. 5\/1973 stipulates that BPK members are proposed by
\nthe House before being selected by the president. In June, the
\nHouse sent in the list of a total of 21 names -- which included
\nformer president of state oil and gas firm Pertamina Baihaki
\nHakim -- to fill seven positions in the agency.<\/p>\n
BPK's structure consists of a chairman, a deputy chairman and
\nfive members for which the House picked three candidates for each
\nposition.<\/p>\n
Anwar would replace Satrio B. Judono as BPK chairman for the
\nnext five years -- whose term actually expired late last year.<\/p>\n
Bambang added that senior legislator Abdullah Zainie, the
\nformer head of the House state budget committee, had been
\nselected as deputy chairman of the agency.<\/p>\n
\"As for the five members, the president has appointed Imran,
\nBaharudin Aritonang, Hasan Bisri, Udju Juhaeri and I Gusti Agung
\nRai,\" said Bambang.<\/p>\n
The selection process itself has drawn a fair share of
\ncriticism, including from the existing members of BPK who claimed
\nthat the process violated the Constitution as it did not seek
\nconsent from the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) -- which
\nwould only operate from the next government on.<\/p>\n
The House however, insisted that the process was not illegal
\nin any way, referring to the addendum to the amended Constitution
\nwhich stipulates that all decisions must refer to the existing
\nlaw until a new law to replace the old one is enacted.<\/p>\n
BPK's role is critical in the drive to help root out rampant
\ncorruption in the country. But the agency has often complained
\nthat many of its findings had largely been ignored by law makers
\nand the government.<\/p>\n
BPK reported in September that it had found indications of
\ncorruption amounting to Rp 166.5 trillion (about US$18 billion)
\nin the use of state funds over the past several years. The agency
\nhas also listed the Attorney General's Office as among of the top
\nabusers of state funds.<\/p>\n
Anwar is an outspoken economist who had previously described
\nthe central bank as a den of thieves, before assuming a top post
\nat Bank Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/anwar-to-lead-bpk-in-2004-2009-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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