Government to form body to assess officials' wealth<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will set up a commission to
\nexamine the wealth of state officials in a bid to eradicate
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
A member of the government team assigned to promote the
\ncommission, Soenarko, said in Semarang on Saturday that
\nrecruitment of members of the new body was underway and they are
\nexpected to start working on Nov. 20.<\/p>\n
Called the Commission for Investigation of State
\nAdministrators' Wealth, Soenarko said the commission would
\ncomprise 100 people from various professions, including
\ngovernment officials.<\/p>\n
\"The new body will be responsible for investigating the
\npersonal fortune of both high-ranking civilian and military
\nofficials,\" Soenarko said.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the commission is mandated by the
\nantigraft law, which was enacted in July.<\/p>\n
State officials and military personnel holding the rank of
\nmajor general or above will be obliged to report and declare
\ntheir personal wealth to the body before, during and after they
\ntake office.<\/p>\n
According to Soenarko, officials are subject to a new law on
\ncorruption, which carries jail terms of between two years and 12
\nyears.<\/p>\n
He said his team had registered 100 candidates to sit in the
\nstate-funded body. The nominees will be announced soon to allow
\nthe public \"to respond to the competence of the candidates\".<\/p>\n
\"The nominees, aged from 40 to 75, will be selected based on
\ntheir dedication, attitude, moral standards and their track
\nrecords,\" Soenarko said.<\/p>\n
A commission member will serve a five-year term, but can be
\nreelected for another term.<\/p>\n
Soenarko said each commission member deserved better
\nremuneration than a House of Representatives legislator in order
\nto enable them to concentrate on his or her job, without having
\n\"to think of their kitchen\".<\/p>\n
A House member serving in the 1999-2004 period has a monthly
\nsalary of Rp 5 million, excluding facilities, such as housing,
\nand a vast range of allowances.<\/p>\n
Soenarko said commission members would be assigned to examine,
\nmonitor, clarify the state official's fortune, and verify reports
\nof irregularities submitted by the public.<\/p>\n
In a bid to set up a clean government, President Abdurrahman
\nWahid said he would ask his ministers to declare their wealth
\nbefore taking up their posts.<\/p>\n
The previous government under B.J. Habibie had also planned
\nthe formation of an anticorruption commission, which was expected
\nto group law enforcement officials and professionals.<\/p>\n
Another member of the government team, Ramli Adnansasmita,
\nsaid the commission would not have to provide protection for
\npeople who report their accounts on corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism committed by certain state officials.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, it's important for us to adopt a law to protect
\nwitnesses. That way, people will dare testify to clear up as many
\ncorruption cases as possible in the country,\" Ramli said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-form-body-to-assess-officials-wealth-1447893297",
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