Corruption at DPRDs<\/p>\n
For the last three years, since the endorsement of Law No.
\n22\/1999 on regional autonomy, we have seen the country increasing
\nin "legislative power" -- both at the provincial as well as the
\nregental levels. Recent events have made sensible Indonesians
\nfeel very concerned about the behavior of regional legislative
\ncouncil (DPRD) members.<\/p>\n
The ambiguous articles of the law, which are open to multiple
\ninterpretations, have been exploited by several councillors to
\nenrich themselves. Article 19.1.G, for instance, says that the
\nDPRD has the right to determine its budget, and Article 21.2 says
\nthat the financial arrangement of the DPRD is regulated according
\nto the council's self-determined procedures. Article 29.5 further
\nsays that the DPRD Secretariat's budget is determined by the
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
The exploitation of these loopholes has paid off, but thanks
\nto the vigilance of regional non-governmental organizations and
\nprosecutors who brought the irregularities to the courts, the
\npay-off was only temporary.<\/p>\n
In Padang, West Sumatra, 40 councillors have been named
\nsuspects in a corruption case, including its DPRD Speaker, the
\nalleged mastermind; the Tanggamus DPRD Speaker was detained and
\nis being held in a cell at the Lampung Prosecutor's Office (The
\nJakarta Post, Aug. 20); in Palembang, South Sumatra, 74
\ncouncillors are to be investigated by authorities; in Bandung,
\nWest Java, councillors are being held up to scrutiny by the
\npublic and prosecutors for billions of rupiah in "kaveling (land
\nplot) funds" they had embezzled.<\/p>\n
Besides the corrupt cases above, other councillors throughout
\nmany regions have shown their lack of sense of crisis in abusing
\ntheir budgeting authority by setting their salaries and
\nretirement funds unreasonably high.<\/p>\n
In Bandar Lampung, councillors requested a 500 percent salary
\nincrease. In Kutai Timur regency, East Kalimantan, and Sragen
\nRegency, Central Java, they asked for pensions of Rp 300 million
\nand Rp 50 million, respectively. Not to mention the latest
\ncontroversy in Jakarta and Malang regency, East Java, where
\ncouncillors requested a Rp 2.5 billion wardrobe allowance.<\/p>\n
Bearing these cases in mind, it is highly appropriate that the
\nabove Law be revised -- the latest information from the Ministry
\nof Home Affairs indicated that the draft revision would be ready
\nby the end of October. The draft revision, of course, should
\nprovide a proper and effective supervisory mechanism in regards
\nfinancial matters by involving the expertise of the Ministry of
\nFinance and other relevant institutions.<\/p>\n
M. RUSDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/corruption-at-dprds-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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