House Speaker speaks out against corruption<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives turns its focus on
\nthe problems of corruption, abuses of power and the rise of labor
\ndisputes.<\/p>\n
When opening the current sitting season, House Speaker Wahono
\ncalled on the bureaucracy to take prompt measures to resolve
\nproblems which he said \"pose a threat to national stability.\"<\/p>\n
Wahono said yesterday the Rp 1.3 trillion (US$620 million)
\nfraud at Bank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo) was probably only
\nthe tip of the iceberg, and that much of the nation's corruption
\nsaga had yet to be exposed.<\/p>\n
The minister said that the Bapindo affair should serve as a
\nwarning to officials, demonstrating that they should never put
\ntheir greedy self interests before their duty to the people when
\nmaking decisions.<\/p>\n
\"It's a precious lesson for the decision makers who hold the
\nreins of national development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In an unusually bold statement, the retired lieutenant general
\nand former chairman of the ruling functional group Golkar
\ncriticized the courts and law enforcement agencies.<\/p>\n
\"We're concerned over the decaying reputation of law
\nenforcement and the courts of law,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He referred to the recent scandalous acquittal of several
\nbusinessmen in Surabaya who faced charges of tax fraud.<\/p>\n
The businessmen's acquittal of corruption charges triggered a
\nnational controversy after President Soeharto personally
\nexpressed his dismay. Several court officials are now under
\ninvestigation after allegations that they accepted bribes from
\nthe defendants.<\/p>\n
He said the declining credibility of the legal system was due
\nto the fact that some of the law enforcement agencies have been
\nplagued by scandals.<\/p>\n
\"Officials are more now inclined to misuse their authority to
\nsatisfy their personal interests... Consequently, the enforcement
\nof the law is made difficult if not impossible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The House suggested that the bureaucracy move to restore the
\nimage of the law by improving the professionalism of law
\nenforcement agencies and personnel.<\/p>\n
It expressed regret over last month's violent labor protests
\nin the North Sumatra capital of Medan, which developed into anti-
\nviolent Chinese rioting.<\/p>\n
The incident, he said, has touched on sensitive issues like
\nracial prejudice but also threatened economic growth and national
\nstability.<\/p>\n
One businessman was killed during the violent labor protests
\nin Medan last month. There were also many factories vandalized
\nand dozens of cars turned over.<\/p>\n
Wahono said the rise of worker protests have been spurred by
\nthe lack of social justice, wages set below the legal minimum and
\nthe widening gap between the rich and the poor which has sparked
\n\"social jealousy.\"<\/p>\n
Wahono stressed the need to have a national policy to improve
\nlabor conditions, such as higher wages and better social
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
He called on employers to abide by the minimum wage laws and
\ntreat their laborers with more dignity and respect.<\/p>\n
He urged the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), the only
\nunion the government recognizes, to be responsive to labor
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"SPSI should be able to prove its claim that it defends
\nworkers,\" he said. \"Companies should form SPSI units to channel
\nthe workers' concerns.\" (pan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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