BPK finds huge irregularities in state funds<\/p>\n
Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) said on Tuesday it had found
\nirregularities amounting to the value of Rp 456.3 trillion (about
\nUS$60 billion) in the use of state funds in 2001 and 2002,
\nproviding yet further evidence that efforts to stamp out graft
\nand corruption have been fruitless.<\/p>\n
BPK Chairman Satrio B. Judono disclosed the staggering finding
\nwhen he delivered the agency's biannual report before a House of
\nRepresentatives' plenary session.<\/p>\n
"The findings were the results of an inspection which covered
\nthe implementation of budgets in 2001 and 2002 for regional and
\ncentral governments, and state companies operating under the
\ncentral government and in the regions," Satrio told legislators,
\nadding that the size of all of the budgets audited by the agency
\ntotaled Rp 2,463 trillion.<\/p>\n
As BPK did not specify the irregularities, they could mean
\noutright losses or simply potential losses. But the amount is so
\nhuge that it even surpasses the Rp 336.2 trillion achieved in
\nrevenue in the 2002 budget.<\/p>\n
Judono also expressed disappointment over the findings,
\nespecially such a huge potential loss, which only reaffirms the
\npoor supervisory role of the government.<\/p>\n
"As a common man of course I'm disappointed. Not only because
\nof the huge loss to the state, but it also shows that, although
\nwe do this every time, these things are still happening," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
This highlights yet again that the fight against the die-hard
\npractices of graft and corruption has a long way to go.<\/p>\n
Since the so-called reform era in 1998 -- which was marked by
\nthe downfall of president Soeharto -- pledges to eradicate such
\npractices in the country had been made by succeeding
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's report, however, shows that as time has gone by, the
\nsituation has worsened.<\/p>\n
Of the total irregularities, Satrio said that 387.1 trillion
\nin losses due to irregularities had occurred throughout 2001 with
\nthe remainder estimated to have occurred in the following year.<\/p>\n
Irregularities at state-owned companies were the largest -- in
\nterms of percentage -- they were recorded to have misused close
\nto 50 percent of the budget.<\/p>\n
Of the Rp 35.4 trillion that was inspected, the potential
\nlosses could well reach Rp 17.7 trillion.<\/p>\n
The losses due to irregularities were much more staggering the
\nyear before, reaching Rp 322.5 trillion.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, Judono also said that the report did not
\nrepresent the actual amount of losses the country might have to
\nsuffer, as not all the concerned parties had given their full
\nsupport to the audit process.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, said that he also deplored the
\nhuge irregularities, adding that the report was good input for
\nthe government to follow up.<\/p>\n
"We, along with the government and the related departments
\nwill follow this up under the existing procedures, to make sure
\nthat we can minimize the amount of funds lost," said Akbar, who
\nis facing a prison sentence in a corruption case.<\/p>\n
Based on current regulations, BPK's reports will later be used
\nin all related ministries and other state institutions as a basis
\nto determine the necessary follow-up. Experience has shown,
\nhowever, that little is usually done as a result of such reports.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bpk-finds-huge-irregularities-in-state-funds-1447893297",
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