TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that corruption eradication which is under the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) has created anxiety upon state officials in taking decisions. As a result, it obstructs the economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe support the eradication of corruption, but not to the extent of failing the ,\u201d said Kalla when opening the international seminar of bureaucratic reform at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta, yesterday (12\/5). \u201cStrict measures of KPK can also result in uneasiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the proof that Kalla said was the many banking funds - around Rp200 trillion - that are saved in Bank Indonesia then disbursed for credit. \u201cBank leaders consider it is more comfortable that (their funds) are saved in Bank Indonesia because they will acquire 12 percent interest. Credit disbursement, if it is non-performable in the future, may put them into prison,\u201d said Kalla. However, according to Kalla, the money is needed for stimulating Indonesia's economy.<\/p>\n
Other instances, said Kalla, was that fear of being suspected of corruption has caused electricity in North Sumatera to go out for two weeks. The electricity generator, said Kalla, broke down by virtue of a delay of spare parts since it must be put to tender. \u201cThe tender was four months old. The spare parts only came after six months. In the third month, the electricity had already gone out,\u201d said Kalla. He said that the incident has resulted in losses of billions of rupiah. In addition, it would only cost Rp50 million without the tender.<\/p>\n
In response to the issue, the Deputy Head of the Corruption Eradication Committee Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said that an anti-corruption act has indeed heavy consequences including fear. He acknowledged that there was a decrease in the quality of bureaucracy. However, he added, soon it will be back to normal. \u201cIt will take long time,\u201d he said. This once happened in South Korea as well.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of Legal and Justice Monitoring Division at the Indonesian Corruption Watch, Emerson Yuntho, said that the anxiety of state officials by virtue of strict measures of the KPK was groundless. \u201cThis instead can be pressure for state officials to be careful,\u201d he said yesterday (12\/5). According to him, the emerging anxiety was a good mechanism of control. \u201cIt is better that the project is delayed, and secures state cash, than it is corrupted.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that there was no correlation between the attempt for eradicating corruption with the degrading investment climate and economic growth. \u201cIf the law is bad, it will worsen economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
SUTARTO | SANDY INDRA PRATAMA | Ninin Damayanti<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/corruption-eradication-hampering-economy-1165461947", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }