Compensation fund risks corruption in Cirebon<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon<\/p>\n
Relief to the tune of almost Rp 1.5 billion to counter soaring
\nfuel costs triggered by a reduction in government subsidies will
\nbe allocated this year to the West Java city of Cirebon.<\/p>\n
The specter of corruption there looms large, however, with
\nlocal authorities saying they are even confused as to how the
\nmoney would be distributed.<\/p>\n
The officials admitted that they have no statistics on the
\nnumber of people eligible to receive the money. Apart from that,
\nit was far from clear who would supervise the actual distribution
\nof the funds, totaling Rp 1.487,460,000.<\/p>\n
\"Until now, we don't have data on the population of poor for
\nwhom this money is intended,\" said Nina Sekartina, president of
\nthe Gunung Jati General Hospital, which has been appointed to
\nmanage the money.<\/p>\n
Nor has management set criteria by which the needy could
\nqualify, she said. But, \"we are working on the data in
\ncoordination with the local administration,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The central government is allocating Rp 2.8 trillion in
\ncompensation to the poor in all provinces this year, after it
\nopted to reduce the fuel subsidies, thereby raising prices.<\/p>\n
The money, aimed at developing national health and social
\nprograms for the poor, is planned to be channeled through
\nministries and other state agencies.<\/p>\n
Critics and non-governmental organizations alike have warned
\nthat such huge sums could easily be misused or siphoned off by
\ncorrupt officials and other individuals in the absence of proper
\ndelivery and supervision.<\/p>\n
Suryana, chairman of the city's legislative body, cautioned
\nthat the lack of an exact supervision mechanism over the fund's
\ndistribution exposes it to possible exploitation by corrupt
\nindividuals.<\/p>\n
\"We are worried about new acts of corruption and nepotism in
\nrelation to the funds. Usually, a weak system of supervision
\nbrings about such practices,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suryana said the local legislature will hold a hearing with
\nofficials at the Gunung Jati hospital fund management in an
\neffort to bring order to the process.<\/p>\n
\"We will ask the hospital leaders whether they are ready to
\ntake responsibility for use of the fund. If not, we will take
\nfirm action,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It is the people's money.\"<\/p>\n
Nina added that the fund is expected to finance health
\nservices of 3,556 poor patients this year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/compensation-fund-risks-corruption-in-cirebon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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