City told to curb misuse of funds<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City councilors urged the municipality Saturday
\nto tighten its control and supervision of officials' behavior to
\nhelp prevent the misuse of city funds.<\/p>\n
They made the remarks in response to the discovery of 1,046
\nsuspected incidents of malfeasance by the City Inspectorate
\nDivision this year.<\/p>\n
Lukman Mokoginta from the Indonesian Democratic Party told The
\nJakarta Post that such malfeasance incidents were typical in the
\nmunicipality.<\/p>\n
\"This is a characteristic of the bureaucracy disease. In time,
\nwith the launching of the National Disciplinary Movement and the
\nincreased awareness of the officials, the number of such
\nincidents will decline.\"<\/p>\n
But every year numerous cases are abandoned because they
\ncannot be solved, he said.<\/p>\n
Of the 1,046 suspected acts of malfeasance uncovered this
\nyear, 489 deal with wrongdoings, ranging from indisciplinary
\nactions through abuse of power to corruption; 441 with
\nmanipulative actions and 116 with land cases.<\/p>\n
The data show that this dishonesty has caused the city
\nadministration to suffer losses of about Rp 2.87 billion
\n(US$795,000).<\/p>\n
\"The number of malfeasance cases should be reduced. In order
\nto do that, the city needs to improve coordination between its
\nhigh-ranking officials and their subordinates,\" Lukman said.<\/p>\n
For instance, the senior officers must be consistent in
\napplying the rules.<\/p>\n
\"If the superiors act recklessly, imagine what their
\nsubordinates will do. High-ranking officials must be role-models
\nfor their junior officers.<\/p>\n
\"It is a fact that our society is a paternalistic one, which
\nstill requires a model to lead people's way of life. The same
\nsituation occurs in the municipality,\" Lukman said.<\/p>\n
Lukman also underlined the importance of boldness to cover up
\nviolations occurring in the municipality.<\/p>\n
\"So far, the municipality has revealed only the number of
\nincidents of malfeasance. But it has never presented any names or
\nsanctions given to the violators.<\/p>\n
\"In the future this is very important, because it will teach
\nthe officials concerned a hard lesson,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lukman also urged municipality officials not to shirk from
\nreporting violations committed by their colleagues.<\/p>\n
\"Usually they are afraid to report the matter, or eventually
\nthey join the violators. This kind of action must be stopped,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Saud Rachman of Commission D for development affairs told the
\nPost that it was also time for Governor Sutiyoso to improve his
\ncontrol over his subordinates.<\/p>\n
\"I find many of them sleep during working hours. Many of them
\nchat for hours, too,\" Saud said.<\/p>\n
Saud urged the governor to act on this matter soon. \"If those
\nindisciplinary matters are left unattended, it will be hard to
\nkick the habit.\"<\/p>\n
The governor should also act as an exemplary role model for
\nhis subordinates by doing little things properly, such as turning
\nup on time.<\/p>\n
\"If the governor arrives late at ceremonies, it will have a
\nbad effect on his officials,\" he added. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-told-to-curb-misuse-of-funds-1447893297",
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