Faith lacking in Susilo's anticorruption campaign<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's introduction of concrete
\nantigraft measures at state institutions will have little impact
\nunless law enforcement institutions are reformed and his Cabinet
\ntotally supports the move, observers say.<\/p>\n
Romli Atmasasmita, head of the Anticorruption Monitoring
\nForum, and Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Teten
\nMasduki said that reforming law institutions, most of which were
\nmanned and run by corrupt individuals, and Cabinet members'
\nsupport are a must in the efforts to eliminate corruption at
\nstate institutions.<\/p>\n
\"We all know the political commitment of the President against
\ncorruption. But the antigraft campaign needs more than
\ncommitment,\" Romli told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
Susilo has made an effort to demonstrate his commitment to
\nfighting corruption since taking office in October last year.<\/p>\n
Romli said the eight antigraft steps announced by the
\nPresident on Thursday were nothing more than mere political
\ncommitment.<\/p>\n
\"Auditing state institutions is a regular duty of the Finance
\nand Development Comptroller (BPKP) and the Supreme Audit Agency
\n(BPK). What the President must do is ensure follow ups on the
\nresults of the audits, meaning that any violations must be taken
\nto court,\" Romli said.<\/p>\n
Audit results of the two agencies, which often release reports
\non the abuse of state funds, however, are often ignored by the
\nauthorities, Romli said.<\/p>\n
\"Should they take it to the Attorney General's Office, the
\nlatter ignores it. The President must know it and ensure that any
\nviolations disclosed by an audit be prosecuted,\" Romli said.<\/p>\n
The President vowed that he would start ridding his office of
\ncorruption as a part of a top-down antigraft campaign involving
\nall government institutions.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the BPKP would audit the State Secretariat and the
\nCabinet Secretariat as well as the Bina Graha presidential office
\nand the vice presidential office.<\/p>\n
Both Romli and Teten said the President's antigraft campaign
\nhad yet to show any significant results.<\/p>\n
\"It's not working, we can't feel any result,\" Romli said.<\/p>\n
They said that the lack of support from Cabinet members and
\nlaw enforcers was thwarting the campaign.<\/p>\n
\"Susilo's commitment has yet to be translated into real action
\nby his ministers and relevant institutions,\" Teten said, adding
\nthat they should follow up with more concrete objectives and
\ndetermine a yardstick for the goals.<\/p>\n
The seemingly lack of support from Cabinet members in the
\nfight against corruption can be seen from the fact that only one
\nminister has set up a task force to eradicate corruption in his
\noffice, as explained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
\nchairman Taufiqqurahman Ruki on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Teten warned that the major hurdle to combating corruption was
\nin fact law enforcers combined with poor coordination among law
\nenforcement institutions such as the KPK, the Attorney General's
\nOffice, the police and the courts.<\/p>\n
\"Susilo should take progressive moves in reforming these law
\ninstitutions considering that many of them are still occupied and
\nrun by corrupt individuals,\" said Teten.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said on
\nFriday that since assuming office, the President had issued
\npermits for prosecutors to investigate 39 regional administration
\nofficials for alleged corruption, comprising four governors, 25
\nregents, one mayor and nine deputy mayors.<\/p>",
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