Appeal to Silalahi<\/p>\n
I read with great interest an article in The Jakarta Post on
\nFeb. 2, 1995, page 2 entitled: Officials and their wealth kept in
\ncheck. Although I read it with great interest, doubts are
\nlingering in my mind whether this is 100 percent true. I never
\nhave had any doubt about the political intention of my government
\nto keep everything in check. But surely the Minister will agree
\nthat the implementation is still very poor.<\/p>\n
People can see officials with three or four cars, having
\nseveral houses, organizing glittering wedding parties and showing
\noff wealth far above their official income.<\/p>\n
Let us take as an example a president director of a state-
\nowned company, with a salary of Rp 6 million a month. His routine
\nexpenses for the household and everything is, let's say, Rp 3
\nmillion. So every month he can save a clean three million rupiah,
\nor Rp 36 million a year. But what is the reality? After one year
\nin office they have cars, houses and a fat bank account. How is
\nthat possible? And do not think that this is only known to a very
\nfew. People know, but most of them are apathetic and mind their
\nown business, because they feel that there is not much they can
\ndo.<\/p>\n
What the Minister said in the beginning, that officials and
\ntheir wealth are kept in check, is only partially true. He should
\nhave said that official's wealth can be kept in check, (according
\nto Presidential Decree No 52\/1970, but I do not know for sure
\nwhether this decree still exists).<\/p>\n
Pak Silalahi can do a lot in creating a clean and efficient
\nbureaucracy. The integrity of an official must be considered as
\nan absolute condition to qualify for a job, because efficiency
\nalone cannot ensure that. Bribery, extortion and nepotism can get
\na man a job. In most instances there is the official and
\nunofficial procedures-- Procedures going through the \"back door\"
\nor what we call also the under the table procedure.<\/p>\n
There is a lot that we can do by just implementing the
\nexisting regulations and not trying to create new ones, which
\nonly create more confusion. We know that many regulations lack
\nperfection, but with a strong will we can do a lot.<\/p>\n
The President said in a cabinet meeting on Jan. 30, 1970 that
\nobjective factors encouraging corruption are, among others, Old
\nOrder heritages such as (1) No discipline in the Government ranks
\nand too much interference from the Government in the economic
\nfield, (2) A weak Government apparatus, (3) Weak law enforcement
\nagencies, and (4) Weak control.<\/p>\n
It is a pity that Pak Silalahi did not elaborate on how or
\nwhat the Government is doing or going to do to check the illegal
\ngrowth of the wealth of the officials, and more important what
\nare the results of the Government's efforts in this particular
\nfield. I feel that serious steps should be taken to prevent the
\nbirth of social jealousy and other more serious social
\ndisturbances. And above all I have the impression (hopefully I am
\nwrong) that at present many officials are caught by a dangerous
\ndisease called \"passion for luxurious living.\"<\/p>\n
I pray that Pak Silalahi will have all the strength he needs
\nto start combating this evil. All eyes full of hope (not only
\nHimpunan Mahasiswa Islam's eyes) are watching you. Good luck!<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/appeal-to-silalahi-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }