Discovery of check only the tip of the iceberg: Analysts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The cheque found in the legislature's office
\nbuilding, which is suspected of having been intended as a bribe
\nfor a legislator, is only one small sample that has come to light
\nof a much bigger web of corruption involving government officials
\nand politicians, analysts say.<\/p>\n
\"It was only the tip of the iceberg as corruption is still
\nrampant among government officials and politicians,\" political
\nanalyst from the University of Indonesia (UI) Maswadi Rauf told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Andi Mallarangeng, another political analyst, was also of the
\nopinion that the discovery was only a small example of what was
\nhabitually happening in the bureaucracy and the legislature, all
\nof which, he said, was very regrettable.<\/p>\n
Andi said such practices were endemic in the past. Government
\nofficials and officials from state enterprises often gave \"gifts\"
\nto legislators in order to help smooth the passage of the bills
\nthey were sponsoring.<\/p>\n
\"If such practices still happen in this reform era, it is very
\nregrettable,\" Andi said, adding that he would not be surprised to
\nfind that they were as there are still many \"old hands\" active
\nboth in the bureaucracy and the legislature.<\/p>\n
A traveler's cheque worth Rp 10 million (US$1,063) was found
\non Monday by a cleaner named Sandi on the 8th floor of the
\nlegislature's office building, the floor occupied by lawmakers
\nfrom the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan).<\/p>\n
The cheque reportedly originated from Anshari Ritonga,
\nDirector General for Budgeting at the Ministry of Finance. This
\nwas confirmed by a member of Anshari's secretarial staff, who
\nadded that the cheque was intended for PDI Perjuangan legislator
\nAberson Marle Sihaloho.<\/p>\n
Both Anshari and Aberson denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
\"How easy it is for them to use money which actually belongs
\nto the public. Other people may say the amount is not
\nsignificant, but not for me. Officials should account for every
\ncent spent out of state funds,\" Maswadi said.<\/p>\n
\"So they are lying when they say that all expenditures of
\nstate funds are accounted for,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Maswadi stressed the need to conduct a thorough investigation
\ninto the case and to punish all those involved so as to serve as
\nan example for other government officials and politicians.<\/p>\n
Maswadi said if there was no follow-up in the case, which had
\nbecome a public controversy, government officials and politicians
\nwould feel free to engage in corruption again and again.<\/p>\n
Imam B. Prasodjo, an activist from the Peaceful Indonesia
\nForum, shared Maswadi's view that an investigation was needed.<\/p>\n
\"This has become a public controversy. Only a thorough
\ninvestigation can reveal the truth. If the suspects are found
\ninnocent, then their names should be rehabilitated,\" Imam added.<\/p>\n
Imam hoped that the leaders of the House of Representatives
\nand PDI Perjuangan would take part in resolving the problem as
\nthe case would affect the credibility of both the House and the
\ncountry's largest party.<\/p>\n
Both Imam and Maswadi urged the public, the press, and
\nactivists of non-governmental organizations to continuously
\nmonitor the activities of all public servants.<\/p>\n
\"There is no institution supervising the legislators.
\nTherefore, the public, the press and also NGOs activists should
\nact as watchdogs. This is the only effective way of controlling
\nthem,\" Maswadi added.<\/p>\n
Andi proposed the enactment of a law on governance ethics to
\nregulate various kinds of ethical issues involving public
\nservants.<\/p>\n
\"The law should regulate, among other things, what gifts may
\nbe accepted and given by members of the executive and members of
\nthe legislature,\" Andi said, adding that the House needed an
\nethics committee to deal with such questions. (02)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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