House urges govt to curb corruption<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives closed its third assembly period on
\nThursday and went into a month-long recess, with calls for the
\ngovernment to materialize its promise to stamp out widespread
\ncorruption in the country.<\/p>\n
The House said while that promise still stood, efforts to
\nmaterialize it had resulted in nothing but talk.<\/p>\n
Addressing House members seated in the half-empty plenary
\nhall, House Speaker Agung Laksono blamed sluggish progress in the
\neradication of corruption partially on law enforcers' low morals.<\/p>\n
\"Indications of moral degradation are evident in the
\ninvolvement of law enforcers in criminal acts, such as gambling
\nand illegal logging activities,\" he lamented.<\/p>\n
Agung said the government should beef up coordination among
\npivotal government institutions and take serious action against
\nthose found guilty of embezzlement.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been ranked by the Berlin-based International
\nTransparency as the fifth most corrupt country in the world.
\nNumerous surveys have shown that leading contributors to the
\nsituation are red tape and the weak performance of legal
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
A number of low and high-profile corruption cases have been
\nexposed and investigated over the past few months, many of those
\nimplicating state officials and House members themselves.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, the House suggested that the government
\nmake an inventory of its islands, and register them with the
\nUnited Nations before 2007, to avoid more claims by neighboring
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has over 13,000 large and small islands, many of
\nwhich are still virgin. Indonesia lost the Sipadan and Ligitan
\nislands in 2001 to Malaysia, and is currently in a dispute with
\nMalaysia over an offshore oil field in East Ambalat, Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Agung reminded House members to work quickly and efficiently
\nin deliberating bills, particularly as the institution had failed
\nto make any laws during its third assembly period, which started
\non Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
According to the National Legislation Program, the House is
\ntasked with deliberating 55 bills this year, including those on
\nthe presidential body and disaster mitigation.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Agung stressed the importance of thoroughness in
\nthe discussion and consideration of bills, as well as paying
\nattention to public interests and those of related institutions,
\nto prevent the Constitutional Court stepping in to review laws in
\nthe future.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-urges-govt-to-curb-corruption-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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