Council urges Sutiyoso to step down from firms<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The City Council demanded on Monday that Jakarta Governor
\nSutiyoso resign as a commissioner of city-owned firms as holding
\nsuch a position is a violation of a decree of the Ministry of
\nHome Affairs.<\/p>\n
\"Although the decree carries no sanctions, Sutiyoso should
\nresign from the companies,\" chairman of City Council Commission
\nB for economic affairs Syarief Zulkarnaen told reporters.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Decree No. 50\/1999 that prohibits a
\ngovernor and a deputy governor from becoming a commissioner in
\ncity firms.<\/p>\n
Zulkarnaen of the United Development Party said that Sutiyoso
\nwas reluctant to resign from the companies since the decree
\ncarried no sanctions.<\/p>\n
Councillors were surprised when they discovered last week that
\nSutiyoso was still a commissioner at city-owned PD Pasar Jaya,
\nwhich operates dozens of markets and shopping centers.<\/p>\n
PD Pasar Jaya, however, only contributed Rp 3 billion
\n(US$300,000) to the city although its income reached Rp 150
\nbillion last year.<\/p>\n
City-owned firms are known to be used as cash cows for certain
\ncity officials and councillors.<\/p>\n
Commission B deputy chairman Dani Anwar, from the Justice
\nParty, strongly believed that Sutiyoso also held a similar
\nposition at five other city-owned firms because according to a
\nbylaw on city-owned firms, the governor automatically become a
\ncommissioner at the firm.<\/p>\n
The ministerial decree, however, which was issued in late 1999
\nhas superiority over the bylaw.<\/p>\n
Even though Sutiyoso had not complied with the decree, Dani
\ndid not see it a serious violation.<\/p>\n
\"It is his negligence that he has not resigned (from the
\ncompanies),\" Dani said.<\/p>\n
Activists, however, demanded the ministry investigate the
\nviolation of the decree. They also urged the governor to return
\nall income he has received as a commissioner with city-owned
\nfirms.<\/p>\n
According to Bylaw No. 3\/1999 on PD Pasar Jaya, a
\ncommissioner's monthly salary amounts to 40 percent of the firm's
\npresident's salary.<\/p>\n
The Public Servant's Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) earlier
\nreported that Sutiyoso's wealth reached Rp 15 billion, making him
\nthe richest governor in the country.<\/p>\n
The home ministry prohibits the governor and deputy governor
\nfrom becoming a commissioner at any city-owned company because
\nthey have limited time to oversee the firms.<\/p>\n
The dual position also represents a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso's resignation, however, may not be on the cards in
\nthe near future as the conflicting bylaws need to be reviewed
\nfirst. The review of the bylaws will take time as it needs the
\ncouncil's approval.<\/p>\n
Deputy Governor for Financial Affairs Fauzi Alvie Yasin had at
\nfirst said that Sutiyoso might resign next month, but he then
\nadded that Sutiyoso was still needed to prevent corruption and
\ncollusion practices in the firms.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/council-urges-sutiyoso-to-step-down-from-firms-1447893297",
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